John H Cross1, Jeevan Sherchand2
1. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
2. Tribhuvan University Public Health Laboratory, Kathmandu, Nepal
CITATION: John H Cross, Jeevan Sherchand. Cyclospora cayetanensis: “Look and you will find.” International Medical Research Journal. 1997 Dec;1(2):81–5.
ABSTRACT
Cyclosporiasis caused by the elusive coccidian parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis is reported from many parts of the world, but at the present time it is probably being under-diagnosed. The stools of patients presenting with diarrhoea should be examined for oocysts. Finding the oocysts by light microscopy at high magnification (400 X) is time consuming but it provides the definitive diagnosis. Scanning by ultraviolet fluorescence microscopy is helpful and acid-fast staining may provide a presumptive diagnosis. The life cycle of the parasite has not been completely elucidated and although water may be a vehicle of transmission of the organism other means of spread are suspected. However, many of the answers must wait until a natural host for the parasite is found or until the life cycle is established in a laboratory animal. The clinical manifestations of the disease are diarrhoea, fatigue, anorexia, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, myalgia flatulence, bloating and dyspepsia. Treatment is co-trimoxazole (TMP160/SMZ 800) twice daily for 7 days.
KEYWORDS: Cyclospora cayctanensis, laboratory diagnosis, treatment, clinical features
