Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Microsporidea
*Microsporidium
Nosematidea
*Brachiola
*Nosema
*Vittaforma
Pleistophoridea
*Pleistophora
*Trachipleistophora
At least 14 species of Microsporidia, in eight genera, can cause microspori-
diosis. Most produce symptoms of diarrhea that can be chronic, and wasting,
in susceptible individuals. Some microsporidian species produce a variety of
additional conditions, associated with ocular infections, muscle infections,
and even systemic disease.
Readers should remember not to confuse Microsporidia with
Microsporum, a fungal genus causing dermatophytosis. It is also important
not to confuse microsporidiosis with cryptosporidiosis, an apicomplexan
disease (Apicomplexa, Chapter 19), that also produces diarrhea in immune-
compromised patients.
Infectious species:
Brachiola algerae
(microsporidiosis, keratoconjunctivitis, skin and deep
muscle infection)
Brachiola connori
(microsporidiosis, ocular infection)
Brachiola vesicularum
(microsporidiosis)
Encephalitozoon cuniculi
(microsporidiosis, keratoconjunctivitis,
infec-
tion of respiratory and genitourinary tract, disseminated infection)
Encephalitozoon hellem
(microsporidiosis, keratoconjunctivitis, infection
of respiratory and genitourinary tract, disseminated infection)
Encephalitozoon intestinalis
,formerly
Septata intestinalis
(microsporidiosis,
infection of the GI tract causing diarrhea, and dissemination to ocular,
genitourinary and respiratory tracts)
Enterocytozoon
bieneusi
(microsporidiosis,
diarrhea,
acalculous
cholecystitis)
Microsporidium ceylonensis
(microsporidiosis, infection of the cornea)
Microsporidium africanum
(microsporidiosis, infection of the cornea)
Nosema ocularum
(microsporidiosis, ocular infection)
Pleistophora
sp. (microsporidiosis, muscular infection)
Trachipleistophora hominis
(microsporidiosis, muscular infection, keratitis)
Trachipleistophora
anthropophthera
(microsporidiosis,
disseminated
infection)
Vittaforma corneae
, same as
Nosema corneum
(microsporidiosis, urinary
tract infection, ocular infection)
