Detection of Intestinal Parasites
Cryptosporidium Life Cycle

March 2009
Cryptosporidium has a complicated life cycle. However, the basic components are similar to Giardia intestinalis. There is an infectious cyst stage called an oocyst that may contaminate food or water. In fact, recreational water sources are commonly implicated in infections. These oocysts are then ingested by humans and they exist in the small intestine. After multiple different reproductive stages in the intestinal cells, infectious oocysts are then excreted in the feces and may go on to infect other individuals.
Cryptosporidium Life Cycle |
Jump to section:
- Introduction
- Intestinal Parasites
- Detection of Intestinal Parasites
- Direct Smear of Fresh Feces
- Direct Smear of Fresh Feces
- Motile Trophozoite of Pentatrichomonas hominis
- Motile Larva of Strongyloides stercoralis
- Feces Concentration
- Concentrated Feces with Saline
- Concentrated Feces Wet Preparation
- Concentrated Fecal Smear Stained with a Modified Trichrome Stain
- Giardia intestinalis
- Additional Tests on Fecal Samples
- Which One to Order?
- Parasitic Investiagation of Stool Specimens Algorithm
- Giardia intestinalis
- Life Cycle of Giardia
- Concentrated Feces Wet Preparation
- Giardia intestinalis - Cyst
- Giardia intestinalis - Trophozoite
- Clinical Presentation
- Epidemiology
- US Risk Factors for Giardiasis
- G intestinalis is Easily Transmitted Because
- Diagnosis of Giardiasis
- Algorithm Close-up
- Giardia Antigen Test, Feces
- Sandwich Assay
- ELISA Microtiter Plate
- Treatment
- Cryptosporidium spp
- Cryptosporidium Life Cycle
- Cryptosporidium - Cyst on Wet Prep
- Cryptosporidium - Cysts with Acid Fast Stain
- Clinical Presentation
- Epidemiology
- Examples of Outbreaks
- Examples of Outbreaks
- Cryptosporidium is Easily Acquired Because
- Diagnosis
- Algorithm Close-up
- Cryptosporidium Antigen Test, Feces
- Treatment
- Less Common Fecal Parasites
- Algorithm Close-up
- References
- Questions?