cryptosporidiosis

Pronunciation: krip′tō-spō-rid′ē-ō′sis

Definition: An enteric disease that is tranferred by waterborne or fecal contamination routes; caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Cryptosporidium; characterized pathologically by villous atrophy and fusion and clinically by diarrhea in humans, calves, lambs, and other animals; disease in immunocompetent people is usually manifest as a self-limiting diarrhea, whereas in immunocompromised people it is manifest as a prolonged severe diarrhea that can be fatal.

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