Disease Carriers

Protozoa: Cyclospora cayetanensis

Cyclospora cayetanensis infection results in a disease with non-specific symptoms. In general, there is usually one day of malaise, low fever and diarrhea. There may be fatigue, vomiting and weight loss. The disease usually is self-limiting in three to four days, but diarrhea relapses may occur for up to four weeks. Quite often the disease is the cause of unexplained summer diarrheal illness and similar illness following travel to tropical areas.

This light microscope micrograph shows several acid fast stained oocysts of the protozoan parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis.

For further information contact Janet Keithly at keithly@wadsworth.org