Cyclosporiasis

Definition

Cyclosporosis is a parasitic disease caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis, a recently discovered coccidia that was initially described in Peru and then in most intertropical zones. Infection occurs through ingestion of contaminated food or water and leads to abdominal pain, anorexia and diarrhoea, which may resolve spontaneously in immunocompetent individuals but may persist in a chronic form in immunocompromised subjects, leading to a decline in their general state of health.