Cryptosporidium hominis

Xu P, Widmer G, Wang YP, Ozaki LS, Alves JM, Serrano MG, Puiu D, Manque P, Akiyoshi D, Mackey AJ, Pearson WR, Dear PH, Bankier AT, Peterson DL, Abrahamsen MS, Kapur V, Tzipori S, Buck GA (2004) The genome of Cryptosporidium hominis. Nature 431 1107-1112... 

Apicomplexa (Alveolata) Cryptosporidium hominis Monoxenous (apparently human specific) Yes Yes Human-to-human contact... 

Tanriverdi S, Grinberg A, Chalmers RM, Hunter PR, Petrovic Z, AMyoshi DE, London E, Zhang L, Tzipori S, Tumwine JK, Widmer G (2008) Inferences about the global population structures of Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis. Appl Environ Microbiol 74 7227-7234... 

Note Fecal screening may show other intestinal parasites, including Cryptosporidium spp., Balantidium coii, Dientamoeba fragiiis, Isospora belli, C. lamblia, or Blastocystis hominis. 

Amenta M, Dalle Nogare ER, Colomba C, Prestileo TS, Di Lorenzo F, Fundaro S, Colomba A, Ferrieri A Intestinal protozoa in HIV-infected patients Effect of rifaximin in Cryptosporidium parvum and Blastocystis hominis infections. J Chemother 1999 11 391-395. 

Interestingly, in a small study on patients with AIDS, rifaximin was found to be effective against infectious diarrhea with stool cultures positive for protozoal pathogens, such as Cryptosporidium parvum and Blastocystis hominis [34], The favorable effects of rifaximin on protozoal diarrhea have been also reported in a recent multicenter study on patients with travelers diarrhea [33], In fact, patients with pretreatment stools positive for Cryptosporidium infections obtained a clinical improvement with rifaximin significantly superior to the placebo-treated subjects. 

Haresh K, Suresh K, Khairul Anus A, Saminathan S (1999) Isolate resistance of Blastocystis hominis to metronidazole. Trop Med Int Health 4 274-277 Inui H, Ono K, Miyatake K, Nakano Y, Kitaoka S (1987) Purification and characterization of pyruvate NADP+ oxidoreductase in Euglena gracilis. J Biol Chem 262 9130-9135 Keithly JS, Langreth SG, Buttle KF, Mannella CA (2005) Electron tomographic and ultra-structural analysis of the Cryptosporidium parvum relict mitochondrion, its associated membranes, and organelles. J Eukaryot Microbiol 52 132-140 Kurland CG, Andersson SGE (2000) Origin and evolution of the mitochondrial proteome. Micro Mol Biol Rev 64 786-820... 

Cryptosporidia are protozoan parasites that cause diarrhea in many species, including humans. Cryptosporidium parvum and C. hominis account for almost all human infections. Infectious oocysts in feces may be spread either by direct human-to-human contact or by contaminated water supplies. Groups at risk include travelers, children in day-care facilities, male homosexuals, animal handlers, veterinarians, and other healthcare personnel. Immunocompromised individuals are especially vulnerable. After ingestion, the mature oocyte releases sporozoites that invade host epithelial cells. Infection usually is self-limited. In AIDS patients and other immunocompromised individuals, severe secretory diarrhea may require hospitalization and supportive therapy. 

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