Cryptosporidiosis

What is cryptosporidiosis Can I get cryptosporidiosis? Who should I contact, if I and what causes it? Yes. People become infected by suspect cryptosporidiosis? Cryptosporidiosis (KRIP-toe-spo-rid- accidentally ingesting contaminated In Animals – Contact your ee-OH-sis) is a diarrheal disease caused water (e.g., lakes, streams, swimming veterinarian immediately. by the protozoa, Cryptosporidium. pools, hot tubs), eating contaminated In Humans – Contact your The disease can affect most animals, food or by contact with objects physician immediately. including humans, and usually causes contaminated with feces or unwashed How can I protect my animal mild diarrhea, but can be severe in hands (fomites). A rare form of of the young or weak animals. disease affects the lungs following from cryptosporidiosis? inhalation (aerosol) of the organism. Cryptosporidium organisms are What animals get Symptoms develop about one common in the environment and cryptosporidiosis? week after exposure. Most people are carried by many animals without All mammals, especially young who become infected never get sick. symptoms. The protozoa are resistant animals, can get cryptosporidiosis. If disease does occur it may include to many disinfectants. Chlorine does Calves and lambs are most often watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, not effectively kill the organism. affected. Birds, fish and rabbits can nausea and a poor appetite. Vomiting, Therefore, it is hard to completely also be infected. Dogs, cats and horses fever, and muscle aches may also protect your animal. rarely get this disease. occur. Young children and pregnant Keep sick animals away from those women are particularly susceptible that are healthy. Clean and disinfect How can my animal get to dehydration. areas where animals have been ill or cryptosporidiosis? If you are ill with cryptosporidiosis, had diarrhea. Provide good nutrition Infected people and animals you can pass the organism to others and keep your animals healthy to shed the protozoa in their feces; in your feces. Infected people will minimize the risk and consequences this contaminates the environment. continue shedding organisms for a of infection. Cryptosporidium can survive up to 2 few weeks after recovering, so avoid to 6 months in damp environments. How can I protect myself swimming in public areas during The organism can be ingested in from cryptosporidiosis? this time. contaminated food or water or by Wash your hands thoroughly and contacting or licking contaminated frequently especially after using the non-living objects (fomites). It is toilet, touching animals and before also possible to inhale (aerosol) the handling or eating food. Wash all raw organism, but this is very rare. fruits or vegetables well before eating them. Do not drink (or swallow) water How does cryptosporidiosis from lakes , streams, hot tubs or pools. affect my animal? Do not swim in public areas if you In animals, illness begins a few have or recently had diarrhea. days after being infected. Young animals become ill most commonly For More Information and will have diarrhea, poor appetite, Cryptosporidiosis CFSPH Technical Fact Sheets. and weight loss. While the disease is is also called “crypto”. Cryptosporidiosis at http://www.cfsph. usually mild, it can become serious The protozoa is commonly iastate.edu/DiseaseInfo/ or even fatal. Many animals can carry found in contaminated CDC website. Cryptosporidiosis at http:// Cryptosporidium organisms without water sources. www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/ showing signs of illness. cryptosporidiosis/

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