TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE        –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         i

CERTIFICATION           –         –         –         –         –         –         –         ii

DEDICATION      –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT         –         –         –         –         –         –         iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS          –         –         –         –         –         –         v

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION                 

1.1 Background of Study – –         –         –         –         –         –         1

CHAPTER TWO: CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS OF CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS

2.1 Cryptosporidiosis       –         –         –         –         –         –         –         3

2.2 History of Cryptosporidiosis                    –         –         –         –         4

2.3 Taxonomy of Cryptosporidiosis     –         –         –         –         –         5

2.4 Causes of Cryptosporidiosis –         –         –         –         –         –         6

2.5 Symptoms of Cryptosporidiosis     –         –         –         –         –         8

2.6 Diagnosis of Cryptosporidiosis      –         –         –         –         –         10

CHAPTER THREE: IMPLICATIONS AND TREATMENT OF

CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS

3.1 Pathophysiology of Cryptosporidiosis     –         –         –         –         13

3.2 Health Implications of Cryptosporidiosis –         –         –         –         14

3.3 Prevention of Cryptosporidiosis     –         –         –         –         –         15

3.4 Treatment of Cryptosporidiosis     –         –         –         –         –         17

CHAPTER FOUR: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

4.1 Summary         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         18

4.2 Conclusion       –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         19

References

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background of Study

An estimated 2.2 million people die each year from waterborne diseases, which also contribute to numerous other disorders like diarrhea, gastrointestinal problems, and systemic illnesses. Children make for about 1.4 million of these fatalities. According to estimates, alone in the United States, waterborne infections have an annual economic Impact of $1 billion. It is estimated that there is a global economic loss of close to 12 billion US dollars annually. A number of infectious organisms, including as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and helminths, can cause waterborne diseases through ingestion, airborne transmission, or direct contact with contaminated water. Around the world, an estimated 2.5 billion people lack access to better sanitation, and over 780 million people do not have access to clean water sources. (Hunter et al, 2005)

These resulted in at least 13,966 cases, including 24 dermatologic illnesses, 81 acute gastrointestinal sickness outbreaks (12,477 cases), and 17 acute respiratory illness outbreaks. Parasites accounted for 64% of outbreaks, followed by bacteria (21%), viruses (4.8%), and then viruses. Following in terms of etiologic pathogen importance was the bacteria E. Shigella sonnei, Pseudomonas species, Legionella species, E. coli O157:H7 and Cryptosporidium ( Lederc et al., 2002).

Cryptosporidium is the second major cause of moderate to severe diarrhea in children younger than two and an important cause of mortality worldwide. It occurs most commonly during waterborne epidemics and in immunocompromised hosts. Cryptosporidium is part of the coccidia group of protozoa, which also includes Isospora and Cyclospora which causes Cryptosporidiosis in humans. Although several Cryptosporidium species have been identified in humans, C. hominis and C. parvum account for more than 90% of human cases of cryptosporidiosis