What is the Difference Between Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora

The key difference between Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora is that Cryptosporidium is a genus of apicomplexan parasites responsible for cryptosporidiosis, whereas Cyclospora is a genus of apicomplexan parasites responsible for cyclosporiasis in humans.

The genera of apicomplexan parasites that infect humans and animals include Toxoplasma, Plasmodium, Eimeria, Isospora, Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, and Babesia. Both Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora can infect humans and animals, leading to different diseases. Moreover, the species of these genera specifically affect the gastrointestinal tract of humans.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Cryptosporidium  
3. What is Cyclospora
4. Similarities – Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora
5. Cryptosporidium vs. Cyclospora in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Cryptosporidium vs. Cyclospora

What is Cryptosporidium?

Cryptosporidium is a genus of apicomplexan parasites. This genus comprises the species causing intestinal and respiratory cryptosporidiosis in humans. Therefore, species in this genus can cause gastrointestinal and respiratory illness in humans. The well-known species of this genera include Cryptosporidium parvum, Cryptosporidium hominis, Cryptosporidium muris, Cryptosporidium ubiquitum, and Cryptosporidium varanii. The species of this genus has three developmental stages: meronts, gamonts, and oocysts. These species reproduce within intestinal epithelial cells. Their oocysts can survive for lengthy periods outside a host or in the external environment.

The symptoms of cryptosporidiosis are diarrhea, loose or watery stool, vomiting, unintentional weight loss, stomach cramps, nasal discharge, voice change, cough, dyspnea, fever, and hypoxemia. The risk factors for this condition include swallowing water contaminated with these parasites, eating uncooked foods contaminated with these parasites, swallowing these parasites picked up from surfaces having the stool of an infected person, and people with a weak immune system (HIV, cancer, or people with inherited diseases that affect the immune system). Cryptosporidiosis can be diagnosed through a physical examination and an examination of stool samples. Furthermore, cryptosporidiosis is treated through an FDA-approved drug called nitazoxanide.

What is Cyclospora?

Cyclospora is a genus of apicomplexan parasites that has well-known species such as Cyclospora cayetanensis, Cyclospora angimurinensis, Cyclospora ashtabulensis, Cyclospora caryolytica, Cyclospora cercopitheci, Cyclospora colobi, Cyclospora megacephali, Cyclospora papionis, Cyclospora parascalopi, and Cyclospora talpae. Cyclospora cayetanensis is the causative agent of cyclosporiasis. The symptoms of cyclosporiasis may include watery or explosive diarrhea, loss of appetite, bloating, fatigue, low-grade fever, nausea, stomach cramps, and vomiting. The risk factors for getting cyclosporiasis include living in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world and having a compromised (weakened) immune system due to HIV/AIDS or cancer or taking immunosuppressive medications.

Cyclosporiasis can be diagnosed through physical examinations, stool tests, and DNA testing through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) panels. Furthermore, cyclosporiasis is treated through trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX), which is sold under the trade names Bactrim, Septra, and Cotrim.

What are the Similarities Between Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora?

• Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora can infect humans and animals, leading to different diseases.
• Both genera comprise of apicomplexan parasites.
• They have species that can infect the gastrointestinal tract and cause similar symptoms such as diarrhoea, bloating, stomach cramps, etc.
• The species of both genera have developmental stages such as meronts, gamonts, and oocysts in their life cycle.
• Diseases caused by the species of both genera can be diagnosed through physical examination and stool tests.
• The diseases caused by species of both genera can be treated through specific medications.

What is the Difference Between Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora?

Cryptosporidium is a genus of apicomplexan parasites that is comprised of the species causing cryptosporidiosis in humans, while Cyclospora is a genus of apicomplexan parasites that comprised of the species causing cyclosporiasis in humans. Thus, this is the key difference between Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora. Furthermore, well-known species of Cryptosporidium include Cryptosporidium parvum, Cryptosporidium hominis, Cryptosporidium muris, Cryptosporidium ubiquitum, and Cryptosporidium varanii. On the other hand, well-known species of Cyclospora cayetanensis, Cyclospora angimurinensis, Cyclospora ashtabulensis, Cyclospora caryolytica, Cyclospora cercopitheci, Cyclospora colobi, Cyclospora megacephali, Cyclospora papionis, Cyclospora parascalopi, and Cyclospora talpae.

The infographic below presents the differences between Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Cryptosporidium vs. Cyclospora

Apicomplexa is a large phylum of mainly parasitic protists belonging to the alveolata group. These parasites infect both invertebrates and vertebrates. Apicomplexans have complex life cycles with both asexual and sexual reproduction. Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora are two genera of apicomplexan parasites that infect humans and animals. Cryptosporidium is a genus of apicomplexan parasites that cause cryptosporidiosis in humans. Cyclospora is a genus of apicomplexan parasites that cause cyclosporiasis in humans. So, this is the key difference between Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora.

Reference:

1. MJ;, Eberhard ML;Pieniazek NJ;Arrowood. “Laboratory Diagnosis of Cyclospora Infections.” Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
2. “Parasites – Cryptosporidium (Also Known as ‘Crypto’).” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Cyclospora Lifecycle” By Hmehlers23 – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Cryptosporidium LifeCycle lg” By CDC (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia