Pathogenic Mechanisms of Cryptosporidium and Giardia.
Intestinal protozoa are important etiological agents of diarrhea, particularly in children, yet the public health risk they pose is often neglected. Results from the Global Enteric Multicenter Study (GEMS) showed that Cryptosporidium is among the leading causes of moderate to severe diarrhea in children under 2 years. Likewise, Giardia infects approximately 200 million individuals worldwide, and causes acute diarrhea in children under 5 years. Despite this recognized role as pathogens, the question is why and how these parasites cause disease in some individuals but not in others. This review focuses on known pathogenic mechanisms of Cryptosporidium and Giardia, and infection progress towards disease.
University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Pasteur Institute of Lille, U1019-UMR 8204-CIIL, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France; Medical Research Department, Hospital Group of the Catholic Institute of Lille, Faculty of Medicine and Maieutics, Catholic University of Lille, Lille, France. Electronic address: gabriela.certad@pasteur-lille.fr.
Gabriela
G
Certad
University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Pasteur Institute of Lille, U1019-UMR 8204-CIIL, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France.
Eric
E
Viscogliosi
University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Pasteur Institute of Lille, U1019-UMR 8204-CIIL, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France.
Magali
M
Chabé
European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
Simone M
SM
Cacciò
D000367:Age Factors; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005872:Giardia / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans
Cryptosporidium; Giardia; parasite–host factor interaction; virulence