[Cyclosporidiosis: clinical and diagnostic characteristics of an epidemic outbreak].
BACKGROUND
Cyclospora cayetanensis, a coccidian parasite, has increasingly been recognized as a cause of gastrointestinal tract illness. We describe a group of patients with this infection.


OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to describe the observed clinical course and spectrum of the disease.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective study of 101 patients with diarrhea who attended the same wedding reception.


RESULTS
Mean incubation period was 8 days; commonly reported symptoms included diarrhea (91%), with 10 or more loose stools in a 24-h period. The illness had a characteristic waxing and waning course and in nearly 72% of patients there occurred symptom recurrence. Other reported symptoms in our patient group included vomiting and fever; 72% of patients had received antibiotics, mainly quinolones, without good response. Watercress was probable vehicle of transmission.


CONCLUSIONS
Cyclospora may cause severe diarrhea with a long incubation period and recurring symptoms, which should be considered in evaluation of prolonged gastrointestinal illness. To our knowledge, this is the first outbreak reported in Mexico.
Ayala-Gaytán
Juan Jacobo
JJ
Servicio de Infectología, Hospital San José-Tec. de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina Ignacio A. Santos, Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, NL México. jjag@hsj.com.mx
Díaz-Olachea
Carlos
C
Riojas-Montalvo
Patricia
P
Palacios-Martínez
Cruz
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D021744:Cyclospora / Q000302:isolation & purification; D021866:Cyclosporiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000469:parasitology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D016266:Food Parasitology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged