Husna, Amity University Kolkata
What is Cryptosporidiosis?
Cryptosporidiosis is a diarrheal disease that is caused by Cryptosporidium, the microscopic parasite. It can spread by contact with the stool of an infected organism. Cryptosporidium has been identified by the Global Enteric Multicenter Study (GEMS) to be the second most common reason for diarrhoea, particularly among newborn infants (0–11 months) in African countries including the Gambia, Mali, Mozambique and Kenya. It has also been reported to affect older malnourished children (12–23 months).
Infected respiratory tract by cryptosporidium is known as Respiratory cryptosporidiosis. It has been reported in one-third of children suffering from diarrhoea. Respiratory cryptosporidiosis occurs either by inhalation or via contact with fomites.
Cryptosporidium has been observed in sputum (thick mucus produced by lungs upon coughing), according to some studies, but it’s not known whether respiratory involvement is a short-lived phenomenon or a primary source is the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It’s important to understand this for the development of therapeutic strategies.
Recent 2021 study:
A recent study by some scientists was aimed to find out if respiratory involvement of Cryptosporidium may be a short-lived phenomenon in diarrheal disease or not. This was done by evaluating both respiratory and GI cryptosporidiosis synchronously in the children hospitalized due to diarrheal disease. This study has been approved by the University of Malawi College of Medicine Research ethics panel members.
Methods involved in the study:
- A prospective and observational cohort study of Malawian children (2–24 months) hospitalized with diarrhoea, was conducted on a long-term basis.
- The PCR test was conducted by collecting three compartments, which are Nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs, induced sputum and stool specimens. The induced sputum was collected by giving nebulized 3% sodium chloride mist to inhale for 5–15 minutes. In the case of infants, the oropharynx was suctioned to collect the specimen after nebulization.
- Fortnightly visits of up to 8 weeks post-enrollment for those participants that were tested positive by Cryptosporidium PCR in any of the three compartments.
Results of the study:
- Among the young children hospitalized with diarrheal disease, over 20% were found to be positive for Cryptosporidium by the results of the conducted study. Those children can shed Cryptosporidium in their stool for up to 2 months.
- Respiratory cryptosporidiosis was detected for a prolonged period repeatedly in a substantial proportion of young children. This detection was more prominent in the lower respiratory tract.
Conclusion and Significance of the study:
- In conclusion, not only the GI tract, but the respiratory tract also acts as a reservoir for infection by Cryptosporidium. So, future research should give importance to the development of therapeutics including drugs that focus both on GI and Respiratory tract.
- The need of the hour is to develop therapeutics for treating Cryptosporidiosis in malnourished children. Many scientists are actively trying to search out newer effective drugs to treat cryptosporidiosis and cure children. The drug should not only reside within the GI tract but it should have a broader systemic distribution to the lungs/respiratory tract as well.
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Reference: Tam, P.-Y. I., Chisala, M., Nyangulu, W., Thole, H., & Nyirenda, J. (2021). Respiratory cryptosporidiosis in Malawian children with diarrheal disease. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 15(7), e0009643. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0009643
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Author’s info:
Husna is an undergraduate student of BTech Biotechnology at Amity University Kolkata. She is a research enthusiast in Immunology and Immunotherapy but she has a keen interest in various other Bioscience subjects as well. She is constantly focused on improving her knowledge and laboratory skills through various internships. She is a Scientific content writer who has knowledge in diverse backgrounds of Biotechnology.
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