COMPENDIUM ON FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE - Flipbook - Page 263
Clinical Significance: Causes cryptosporidiosis, presenting with
watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, and potential severe
complications in immunocompromised individuals.
Unique Features: Oocysts are extremely resilient, surviving standard
water treatment processes.
Entamoeba histolytica
Prevalence: Affects approximately 50 million people worldwide,
with higher rates in tropical regions [8].
Transmission Mechanisms:
● Primary route: Fecal-oral transmission of cysts through:
○ Contaminated water and food
○ Direct person-to-person contact
○ Anal-oral sexual practices
Clinical Significance: Causes amoebiasis, ranging from
asymptomatic colonization to dysentery and extraintestinal
abscesses, primarily in the liver.
Unique Features: Has both commensal (non-pathogenic) and
pathogenic strains, requiring specific testing to differentiate.
Blastocystis hominis
Prevalence: Found in 1-50% of stool samples in developed
countries, with significantly higher rates in developing nations [9].
Transmission Mechanisms:
● Primary route: Fecal-oral transmission of cysts through:
○ Contaminated water sources
○ Food handlers with poor hygiene
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