Sketchy Micro: Cryptosporidium

Question 1

Cryptosporidium is the most common cause of _________________.

Answer 1

severe diarrhea in AIDS patients (like the guy wearing brown pants with the cane)

Question 2

What laboratory test can help identify Cryptosporidium?

Answer 2

It is acid-fast (like the pink poncho worn by the main guy)

Question 3

How is Cryptosporidium transmitted?

Answer 3

Fecal-oral cysts (like the bubbles in the brown water)

Question 4

How does Cryptosporidium appear under microscopy?

Answer 4

Its cysts contain four motile sporozoites that are waiting to be released.

(Think of the amethyst crystals: they’re pink and segmented, just like Cryptosporidium.)

Question 5

What drugs treat Cryptosporidium?

Answer 5

• Nitazoxanide (like the kNITted sOCK that the homeless man is holding)
• Spiramycin (like the SPIRit crow flying over his head)

Question 6

True or false: Cryptosporidium is invasive.

Answer 6

False. Just like the pipe attached to the wall of the room, Cryptosporidium just attaches to the walls of the intestines.

Question 7

What preventative measure can be taken against Cryptosporidium?

Answer 7

Filtration (like the hobo filtering water through the sock)

Cryptosporidium is resistant to chlorination, so filtration is very important.