Cyclospora cayetanensis is a coccidian that causes cyclosporiasis, a foodborne and waterborne intestinal infection. It is transmitted via the fecal-oral route through ingestion of sporulated oocysts contaminating food or water.
Currently, there is no awareness regarding Cyclospora cayetanensis, a microscopic, single-celled parasite causing intestinal infection called Cyclosporiasis. This spreads via contaminated food or water. So, unlike bacteria such as E. coli or Salmonella, it is a parasite that needs time outside the body to become infectious and doesn’t multiply in food, whereas bacteria can rapidly grow and multiply in contaminated food.
As a eukaryotic single-celled parasite, C. cayetanensis fundamentally differs from prokaryotic bacteria like Escherichia coli or Salmonella spp. Bacteria can multiply rapidly in food or the host and often produce toxins or invade tissues directly, leading to shorter incubation periods (hours to days) and potential inflammatory or bloody diarrhea. In contrast, Cyclospora oocysts do not multiply outside the host, require sporulation time, and infect the upper small intestine (enterocytes), causing malabsorptive watery diarrhea without prominent invasion or toxin-mediated inflammation.
Watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, bloating, nausea,poor appetite, bodyache and Low-grade fever occurs in some cases, vomiting and flu-like prodrome may precede GI symptoms.
Children in endemic areas (tropics, poor sanitation) and travellers may be affected. Immunocompromised individuals—especially those with HIV/AIDS, organ transplant recipients on immunosuppressants, or other severe immunosuppression.
Prevention focuses on avoiding contaminated food/water, drink purified water, and practice good hand hygiene. In endemic areas, improve sanitation and hygiene.
Read the full story that first appeared in Deccan Chronicle dated April 25, 2026 here:
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