Cryptosporidium spp. Cryptosporidiose (Cryptosporidiosis)

Kingdom: Protozoa | Phylum: Apicomplexa | Class: Coccidea | Family: Cryptosporididae

Oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. in feces (modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining). The oocysts (stained pink or red by Ziehl-Neelsen) are very small and spherical with a diameter of 4-5 µm. During sporulation four sporozoites develop in each oocyst. Most often found in young animals; most pathogenic to newborn ruminants.

Hosts: Domestic animals and humans. Zoonotic impact depends on species.

Location: The microvillus brush border of the entero-epithelial cells.