The Native Antigen Company is part of LGC Clinical Diagnostics - Learn More

0 Items
Select Page

Cryptosporidium

Cryptosporidium, commonly known as ‘Crypto.’ is a protozoan parasite of medical and veterinary importance that causes the respiratory and gastrointestinal illness Cryptosporidiosis. There are many species of Cryptosporidium that infect animals, some of which also infect humans. Cryptosporidium is a leading cause of waterborne disease among humans in the United States, and is spread in drinking water and recreational water, mainly due to its tolerance of chlorine disinfection. It is the second leading cause of death in children due to diarrheal disease worldwide (diarrhea is responsible for ∼10% of global child mortality).

Cryptosporidium Background

Cryptosporidium is a major waterborne parasites worldwide and causes cryptosporidiosis, an infection that may present as a diarrhoeal with or without a persistent cough in immunocompetent hosts (Bouzid et al., 2013). The first cases of human cryptosporidiosis were reported in 1976 in patients with severe watery diarrhea. In humans, the main causes of disease are C. hominis and C. parvum which account for more than 90% of human cases of cryptosporidiosis. Cryptosporidium is a single-celled eukaryote, a member of the protist phylum Apicomplexa which includes other apicomplexan pathogens such as the malaria parasite Plasmodium and the toxoplasmosis parasite Toxoplasma. Unlike Plasmodium, which transmits via a mosquito vector, Cryptosporidium does not use an insect vector, and is capable of completing its lifecycle within a single host, resulting in cyst stages that are excreted in feces or through inhalation of coughed on fomites and are capable of transmission to a new host. Cryptosporidiosis is typically an acute, short-term infection, can be recurrent through reinfection in immunocompetent hosts, and become severe or life-threatening in immunocompromised individuals. In humans, it remains in the lower intestine and may remain for up to five weeks. Cryptosporidium has three developmental stages: meronts, gamonts and oocysts. They reproduce within the intestinal epithelial cells. The Cryptosporidium spore phase (oocyst) can survive for lengthy periods outside a host and can resist many common disinfectants, notably chlorine-based disinfectants. The parasite is transmitted by these environmentally hardy cysts (4–6 μm in size) that, once ingested, exist in the small intestine and result in an infection of intestinal epithelial tissue. Transmission by ingestion or inhalation of coughed on fomites is a second, less likely route of infection. Currently, there is only one drug available to treat cryptosporidiosis, nitazoxanide, which is largely ineffective for those that most need treatment, namely malnourished children and immunosuppressed patients, such as HIV/AIDS patient  (Gibson & Striepen, 2018).

References

  • Bouzid M, Hunter PR, Chalmers RM, Tyler KM. Cryptosporidium pathogenicity and virulence. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2013 Jan;26(1):115-34.
  • Gibson AR, Striepen B. Cryptosporidium. Curr Biol. 2018 Mar 5;28(5):R193-R194.

Cryptosporidium Antigens

We are pleased to offer a Cryptosporidium parvum native antigen, suitable for use in assay research and development,  and as an antigen for the preparation of Crypto-specific antibodies.

Cryptosporidium Antibodies

We are pleased to offer a Cryptosporidium parvum antibody against our Crypto native antigen, suitable for use in assay research and development.

Questions?

Check out our FAQ section for answers to the most frequently asked questions about our website and company.

Hendra and Nipah Viruses: Catalysing Urgency in Vaccine Development and Diagnostic Advancements

Hendra and Nipah viruses are two closely related pathogens that belong to the genus Henipavirus within the family Paramyxoviridae. These viruses have garnered significant attention due to their zoonotic nature and their potential to cause severe and often fatal...

Monkeypox; 3 months on

It has been 3 months since a new, unusually widespread outbreak of Monkeypox was first identified. What was normally a virus confined to limited infections in the West African continent is becoming a global health concern.   What have we learned about this virus...

COVID-19 Underlines the Need for Universal Vaccines

This article was originally published on Clinical Lab Manager. In recent history, humanity has witnessed numerous emerging viral diseases, including the SARS, MERS, and SARS-2 coronaviruses, as well as HIV, Zika, Ebola, and H1N1 and H3N2 influenza. None have tested...

Tick-Borne Diseases: The Need for Integrated Approaches to Human-Animal Diagnosis

This article has been published in Volume 8, Issue 3 of International Animal Health Journal. Ticks are responsible for a diverse group of neglected, and rapidly expanding diseases, affecting humans, companion animals and livestock. A growing understanding of tick-host...

The Continued Challenges of Flavivirus Serology

This article was originally published on the Science Advisory Board. Flaviviruses are a genus of positive-sense RNA viruses, largely transmitted by mosquito and tick vectors that cause infections, including yellow fever, dengue, the Zika virus, West Nile virus,...

Get in Touch

We sometimes send exclusive information and offers to our customers - please let us know if you are happy to receive these

13 + 12 =