Cryptosporidiasis: Clinical and Public Health

Cryptosporidiasis is an infection of the gastrointestinal tract caused by a coccidian protozoan of the genus Cryptosporidium. There are several species of Cryptosporidium described that infect birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and fish. But only C. parvum, C. hominis and C. meleagridisis are capable of infecting humans. Research carried out in Peru, India, Brazil and Bangladesh showed that C. hominis was the main cause of diarrhea in children. In particular, “C. meleagridisis” is an exclusively avian species and the only one with zoonotic potential in these animals. Representing in some countries an important part of the occurrence of infection in humans, similar or superior than the infection by C. parvum. The discussion was based on the Cochrane, Lilacs, Pubmed, Scielo, and Scielo Brazil databases.