Coccidia

It consists of a large group called Apicomplexa; some of its members are intestinal parasites while others are associated with the blood and tissue parasites. Ingestion of infective oocysts in food and water is the most common mode of transmission.

 

Isospora Belli

Physiology and Structure:

I. Belli is a coccidian parasite of the intestinal epithelium. Both sexual and asexual reproduction occurs in the intestinal epithelium. the end product of gametogenesis is the oocyst, which is the diagnostic stage present in fecal specimen. The oval oocysts of I. Belli measures up to 30 micrometres by 10-17 micrometers. An immature oocyst contains a single central mass and delvelps into two sporocysts after further muturation.

 

Extracted from: Essentials of Human Parasitology

 

Life Cycle:

 

Extracted from: Essentials of Human Parasitology

 

Clinical Syndromes:

  • Infected individuals may be asymptomastic carries or suffer mild to severe gastrointestinal disease such as mimics giardiasis or malabsorption syndrome characterized by loose, foul-smelling stools.
  • Chronic infection may occur and some patients are asymptomatic. Moreover, infections may occur in the liver, lungs and other organs but these are usually rare.

 

Treatment and Prevention:

  • Prevention of infection involves adequate sanitation measures, good personal hygiene.
  • Unprotected homosexual contact should be avoided.

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Parasite is defined as an organism that derives its nutrients from another living organism, the host. Parasitic diseases are usually referred to those caused by protozoa, helminths and arthropods which love at the expense of their host. Successful parasites are the ones who are able to maintain their own life processes without killing their host.

Several ways to distinguish parasites infection and bacteria/viruses infection:

  1. Parasites have a complex life cycle that involves the formation of resistant cyst in the organism. (it can usually survive for long periods outside the host.)
  2. Life cycle might involve an insect vector (carrier) that is important for the transmission of disease. In most cases, it is impossible to eliminate the vector effectively.
  3. Some parasites are capable of infecting both humans and animals, thus both can act as reservoirs for the infection. This is true for most protozal infections carried by insects.
  4. Many parasites has life cycle that requires enough time to allow for the various stages to mature, either in soil or in an insect or host.