       Document 0735
 DOCN  M9590735
 TI    [New parasitic diseases in man: infections caused by Microsporida and
       Cyclospora species]
 DT    9509
 AU    Weber R; Deplazes P; Departement Innere Medizin, Universitatsspital
       Zurich.
 SO    Schweiz Med Wochenschr. 1995 May 6;125(18):909-23. Unique Identifier :
       AIDSLINE MED/95288614
 AB    The non-taxonomic term microsporidia relates to a group of organisms
       belonging to the order Microsporida of the phylum Microspora.
       Microsporidia are obligate intracellular spore-forming protozoa and have
       no metabolically active stages outside the host cell. Their host range
       is extensive and includes most invertebrates and all 5 classes of
       vertebrates. More than 100 microsporidial genera and almost 1000 species
       have now been identified. 5 genera (Enterocytozoon, Encephalitozoon,
       Septata, Pleistophora and Nosema) and unclassified microsporidia have
       been associated with human disease. Only 10 cases of microsporidiosis
       have been described among persons not infected with HIV. In contrast,
       microsporidia have gained increasing attention as important
       opportunistic pathogens in the evolving pandemic of HIV infection.
       Diagnosis depends on morphological demonstration of the organisms
       themselves. The potential sources and modes of transmission of human
       microsporidial infections are uncertain. The clinical manifestations of
       microsporidiosis are diverse and include intestinal, pulmonary, ocular,
       muscular, and renal disease. Preliminary observations of the possible
       utility of albendazole for infections due to Septata intestinalis and
       Encephalitozoon sp. have been reported. The success of therapy for
       intestinal Enterocytozoon bieneusi infection has been limited.
       Cyclospora sp. are recently described protozoa capable of causing
       diarrhea in immunocompetent and immunodeficient patients. Groups at risk
       for infection are children in the developing world, travellers and
       HIV-infected patients. Diagnosis depends on light-microscopic detection
       of oocysts in stool smears stained with acid-fast stains. Diarrhea is
       usually self-limiting. Diarrhea, however, may often last weeks to
       months, causing significant morbidity. Cotrimoxazole appears to be the
       drug of choice for treatment of Cyclospora infection.
 DE    Adult  Animal  Child  Coccidiosis/DIAGNOSIS/*PARASITOLOGY  Developing
       Countries  English Abstract  Feces/PARASITOLOGY  Human
       Immunocompromised Host  Intestinal Mucosa/PARASITOLOGY/ULTRASTRUCTURE
       Microscopy, Electron  Microspora Infections/DIAGNOSIS/*PARASITOLOGY
       *Microsporida/PATHOGENICITY/ULTRASTRUCTURE  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
       JOURNAL ARTICLE  REVIEW  REVIEW, TUTORIAL

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

