Chart: 6 zoonoses you should know -- Cryptosporidiosis

Common disease name

Cryptosporidiosis

(Cryptosporidiosis involves small, intracellular coccidia-like protozoans that can infect a variety of tissues and organs in vertebrate hosts.)

Scientific name

Cryptosporidium canis, Cryptosporidium parvum (commonly zoonotic), Cryptosporidium felis

Method of infection

Cats and dogs: Ingesting oocysts in feces

People: Ingesting oocysts through feces in soil, food, and water-usually contracted from contaminated drinking water or swimming pools

Signs

Cats, dogs, and people: Secretory diarrhea and fluid loss

Treatment

Few drugs are consistently effective, but some drugs such as azithromycin, paromomycin, and tylosin have been used with some success.

People most at risk

Immunocompromised people, especially those with AIDS

Prevention

• Promptly remove animal feces from the yard and litter box.

• Wash hands after exposure to soil.

• Monitor children playing outside in sandboxes, parks, and swimming pools.