Isospora

1. ISOSPORA Www.RCVetS.com

2. INTRODUCTION C occidian protozoan Obligate parasite S ingle-celled

3. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION Worldwide Subtropical Tropical

4. Classification Domain : Eukaryote Phylum: Apicomplexa Class: Coccidia Order: Eucoccidiorida Family: Eimeriidae

5. Site of Infection and Pathogenesis intestinal villus (enterocytes ) lamina propria of the villus

6. Life cycle Sexual Asexual

7. Life cycle   Immature, unsporulated oocyst is excreted through feces. Sporoblast divides into two  Each sporoblast develops into a sporocyst with 4 sporozoites, resulting in mature oocysts. The time spent in stages 1 through 3 is 2-3 days . Mature oocyst is ingested . Oocyst bursts. Sporozoites are released and lodge into the intestinal lining . Sporozoites undergo asexual reproduction to form merozoites. The merozoites mature into gametes which undergo fertilization to produce a new oocyst 

8. Habitat Small intestine

9. Infective Form Oocyst. Size : 20-23 μ m long 10-19 μ m wide

10. Defenative Host Human Animal

11. Pathogenicity T ransmitted by fecal-oral contamination. O ccurs poor sanitation conditions. 3-14 day incubation period between the ingestion of an infectious oocyst and onset of symptoms . After ingestion, the sporozoites invade in the small intestine which eventually destroys these cells . .

12. Transmission Water contaminated food Poor sanitation

13. Clinical Signs Acute infection include: Diarrhea with abdominal pain Malabsorption Weight loss

14. Symptoms A bdominal pain and cramping A norexia and weight loss General malaise L ow fever V omiting

15. Diagnosis Oocysts in the feces Duodenal biopsy Enterotest

16. Labortory diagnosis Typical laboratory analyses include: Microscopy Morphologic comparison with other intestinal parasites Bench aids for  Isospora

17. Prevention Warn travelers not to visit regions where the protozoan is endemic

18. Treatment Trimethoprim (TMP) Sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) Co- trimoxazole