[Cyclospora cayetanensis: biology, environmental distribution and transfer]. / Cyclospora cayetanensis: biología, distribución ambiental y transferencia.

Cyclospora cayetanensis is an apicomplexan protozoan that has emerged as an important pathogen causing endemic or epidemic diarrheal disease worldwide. In industrialized countries, the parasite has been recognized as the causative agent of several outbreaks of diarrheal illness mostly associated with produce imported from endemic areas. In developing countries, human cyclosporosis is widely distributed. Infection rates from 0% to 41.6% have been described in the general population. However, the epidemiology, biology, and ecology of C. cayetanensis are not fully understood. The life cycle is not completely characterized, although it appears to require a single human host to be accomplished. The role of animals as natural reservoirs of the parasite remains to be determined. Little information is available concerning the environmental distribution and vehicles of transmission of C. cayetanensis. Contaminated water, foods or soil can be vehicles of spread of the parasite. The significant uncertainties that remain in the knowledge of C. cayetanensis highlight the need for continuing research in several areas, including its basic biology and environmental distribution.

[Importance of contact with soil in the transmission of cyclosporosis]. / Importancia del contacto con la tierra en la transmisión de la ciclosporosis.

Cyclospora cayetanensis is an emergent pathogen that causes endemic and epidemic diarrhea worldwide. The epidemiology of the infection is not well known. Transmission of the parasite occurs through an environmental vehicle. In industrialized countries, cyclosporosis has been most often associated with either food-borne outbreaks or traveller's diarrhea. In developing countries, infection has been linked with contaminated water or food, contact with animals or soils, and variables related with socioeconomic status. In a Venezuelan community, a strong correlation between environments conducive to fecal contamination and infection was observed, suggesting that direct contact with contaminated soil may be an important route of transmission in areas with substandard housing developments, and poverty a predisposing factor for cyclosporosis.

[Cyclospora cayetanensis outbreak in travelers to Cuba]. / Brote de Cyclospora cayetanensis en viajeros a Cuba.

Initially described in travelers, outbreaks of cyclosporiasis were soon linked to imported food products. An outbreak of cyclosporiasis in Spanish travelers is described. After identification of Cyclospora cayetanensis in stool analyses, a specific questionnaire was completed. Pyrosis was described in 57% of cases (4/7). Peptic symptoms can be a useful clue to indicate the diagnosis of cyclosporiasis in patients with travelers' diarrhea.

Transmission of Cyclospora cayetanensis infection: a review focusing on soil-borne cyclosporiasis.

In industrialised regions, cyclosporiasis has been most often linked with either food-borne outbreaks or foreign travel. In endemic areas, risk factors associated with the infection include contaminated water or food, contact with animals, type of sanitation and contact with soil. In a community from Venezuela, a strong association was observed between environmental contact with faecal-contaminated soil and cyclosporiasis, suggesting that contact with soil may be an important mode of transmission. This paper reviews the transmission of cyclosporiasis, focusing on soil-related infection.

Epidemiology of Cyclospora cayetanensis infection in San Carlos Island, Venezuela: strong association between socio-economic status and infection.

The epidemiology of Cyclospora cayetanensis is not well understood. Few community-based studies have addressed this issue. A study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors for cyclosporiasis in San Carlos Island, Venezuela. A sample of 515 subjects (mean+/-SD: 21.4+/-17.8 years) was surveyed. For identification of the parasite, stools were examined with modified Ziehl-Neelsen carbolfuchsin staining of formalin-ether concentrates. Infections with Cyclospora (43 of 515, 8.3%) were common. There were differences in prevalence of the parasite among sectors of the community: 30 out of 43 (69.8%) cases of cyclosporiasis clustered in two sectors with extreme poverty. Living in these sectors versus the remainder, living in a hut or small residence versus a concrete or larger house, using an area of backyard rather than a toilet or latrine for defecation, and having contact with soil contaminated with human feces were factors strongly associated with the infection (P<0.01). Contact with soil contaminated with human feces might be an important mode of transmission, and poverty a predisposing factor, for the infection.

[Cyclosporidiosis: clinical and diagnostic characteristics of an epidemic outbreak]. / Ciclosporidiosis: características clínicas y diagnósticas de un brote epidémico.

BACKGROUND: Cyclospora cayetanensis, a coccidian parasite, has increasingly been recognized as a cause of gastrointestinal tract illness. We describe a group of patients with this infection. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to describe the observed clinical course and spectrum of the disease. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of 101 patients with diarrhea who attended the same wedding reception. RESULTS: Mean incubation period was 8 days; commonly reported symptoms included diarrhea (91%), with 10 or more loose stools in a 24-h period. The illness had a characteristic waxing and waning course and in nearly 72% of patients there occurred symptom recurrence. Other reported symptoms in our patient group included vomiting and fever; 72% of patients had received antibiotics, mainly quinolones, without good response. Watercress was probable vehicle of transmission. CONCLUSIONS: Cyclospora may cause severe diarrhea with a long incubation period and recurring symptoms, which should be considered in evaluation of prolonged gastrointestinal illness. To our knowledge, this is the first outbreak reported in Mexico.