| Amebiasis (Entamoeba histolytica infection) |
| Impact |
Symptoms |
Treatment |
Tests Available |
In the U.S., amebiasis is most often found in immigrants from developing countries, individuals who have traveled to developing countries and individuals who live in poor sanitary conditions. On average, about 1 in 10 people who are infected with the one-celled parasite
E. histolytica becomes sick. |
Symptoms often are quite mild and can include loose stools and stomach pain and cramping. A severe form of the disease is amebic dysentery, which causes stomach pain, bloody stools and fever. Rarely,
E. histolytica invades the liver and forms an abscess or spreads to other parts of the body such as the lungs or brain. |
Treatment may not be necessary for asymptomatic or mild cases. Most patients are given a combination of luminal and tissue amebicides. Patients with more severe cases of amebic dysentery may also receive fluid and blood replacement. |
ELISA
Clinical Microbiology
|
| Clostridium difficile infection |
| Impact |
Symptoms |
Treatment |
Tests Available |
C. difficile is a spore-forming, gram-positive anaerobic bacillus that produces two exotoxins: toxin A and toxin B.
C. difficile-associated diseases include:
- pseudomembranous colitis (PMC)
- toxic megacolon
- colon perforations
- sepsis death (rarely)
The CDC has reported the emergence of a new strain of C. difficile-associated disease that appears to be more virulent, with the ability to produce greater quantities of toxins A and B, and is more resistant to fluoroquinolone antibiotics. |
Primary clinical symptoms include watery diarrhea, fever, inappetence, nausea and abdominal pain/tenderness. Disease risk increases in patients with antibiotic exposure, gastrointestinal surgery, lengthy hospital stays, serious underlying illnesses, immunocompromising conditions and advanced age. |
The infection can usually be treated with an appropriate course of antibiotics including metronidazole or vancomycin (administered orally). |
ELISA
Clinical Microbiology
|
| Cryptosporidiosis (Cryptosporidium infection) |
| Impact |
Symptoms |
Treatment |
Tests Available |
| This parasite is one of the most common causes of waterborne disease in humans in the U.S. Although the small intestine is most frequently affected, Cryptosporidium infections can affect other areas of the digestive tract as well as the respiratory tract. |
Some infected individuals are asymptomatic. Watery diarrhea is the most common symptom. Others include dehydration, weight loss, stomach cramps or pain, fever, nausea and vomiting. |
There is no reliable treatment for Cryptosporidium enteritis. Certain agents such as paromomycin, atovaquone, nitazoxanide and azithromycin are sometimes used, but they usually have only temporary effects. Currently, the best approach is to provide supportive treatment for symptoms and improve the immune status in immunodeficient individuals. |
ELISA
Clinical Microbiology
|
| Giardiasis (Giardia lamblia infection) |
Back to Top |
| Impact |
Symptoms |
Treatment |
Tests Available |
| Like Cryptosporidium, the parasite G. lamblia is one of the most common causes of waterborne disease in humans in the U.S. |
Some people with giardiasis are asymptomatic. Giardiasis can cause a variety of intestinal symptoms including diarrhea, flatulence, greasy stools that tend to float, stomach cramps and nausea. These symptoms may cause weight loss and dehydration. |
Metronidazole and other antibacterials and antiprotozoals. |
ELISA
Clinical Microbiology
|
| Rotavirus infection |
| Impact |
Symptoms |
Treatment |
Tests Available |
| The most common cause of severe diarrhea among children; about one in 40 children with rotavirus gastroenteritis will require hospitalization for IV fluids. In otherwise healthy individuals, rotavirus gastroenteritis is a self-limited illness lasting for only a few days. |
Characterized by watery diarrhea and vomiting for 3-8 days; fever and abdominal pain frequently occur. |
Treatment is nonspecific and consists of oral rehydration therapy to prevent dehydration. |
Serology/Agglutination
Clinical Microbiology
|
