Cyclospora cayetanensis

MICROBIOLOGY

• Single-celled coccidian parasite
• Member of family Eimeriidae, subclass Coccidiasina, subphylum Apicomplexa.
  • Humans appear to be only known to have C. cayetanensis (no animal reservoirs have been identified).
  • Infected persons shed unsporulated (non-infective) oocysts in feces [life cycle].
    • It takes ~1-2 weeks for oocysts to sporulate and become infective (therefore, person-to-person transmission is less likely).
  • Other members (13) of Cyclospora are found in animals, including rodents and vipers.
  • Cysts are 7.7-9.9 µm in diameter in stool and appear as a sphere with morulae within [Fig 1].
  • Autofluorescent under ultraviolet microscopy.
• It can be responsible for water- or food-borne outbreaks.
• Routine chemical disinfection or food- and water-sanitizing methods don’t generally kill Cyclospora oocysts.