Cyclosporiasis

Cyclosporiasis is a protozoal intestinal infection caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis and grouped among human parasitic diseases ^[1][2][3]. The organism is described as a socioeconomically important protistan pathogen, and the disease is typically linked to food or water exposure with fecal-oral transmission ^[1]. The source material does not provide a more specific taxonomic or clinical definition beyond this etiology-based characterization ^[1].

The illness is described as a gastrointestinal disease, and the available abstract notes that it can be complicated by extra-intestinal disorders ^[1]. Severity and outcome of parasitic disease may depend on host immune status, and complications are noted as being particularly relevant in immunocompromised people ^[3][1]. More general parasitic-infection literature indicates that intestinal parasitic disease can range from mild abdominal discomfort or diarrhea to more serious complications, but source-backed detail specific to cyclosporiasis is not yet available ^[2]. The reviewed sources do not provide a source-backed description of incubation period, symptom duration, relapse pattern, or specific organ complications ^[1][2].

The sources state that few epidemiological data are available for Cyclospora as a water-borne and food-borne pathogen, both in underprivileged communities and in developed countries ^[1]. Cyclosporiasis is presented as occurring in a global context in which intestinal parasitic infections are common, with parasitic intestinal disease noted to predominate in settings of overcrowding and poor sanitation but also to occur in developed nations during sporadic outbreaks ^[2]. The review also indicates that the effect of cyclosporiasis on human health is likely underestimated ^[1]. Source-backed detail on incidence, seasonality, or geographic hotspots is not yet available ^[1].

Cyclospora cayetanensis is usually transmitted to humans through food or water via the fecal-oral route ^[1]. The source material identifies cyclosporiasis as a food-borne and water-borne infection ^[1]. No more specific exposure vehicle, persistence factor, or person-to-person transmission detail is provided in the available snippets ^[1].

The sources identify immunocompromised people as a group in whom extra-intestinal complications are particularly noted ^[1]. More generally, parasitic intestinal infections are said to be associated with overcrowding and poor sanitation, and to occur in developed settings during sporadic outbreaks or among immigrants ^[2]. Source-backed detail on age-specific risk, occupational exposure, travel, or other specific groups is not yet available ^[1][2].

The available sources point to prevention and control through international collaborative efforts, but they do not provide a detailed intervention package ^[1]. Because transmission is usually food- or water-associated and fecal-oral, exposure control in those domains is the source-supported prevention framework ^[1]. Source-backed detail on specific sanitation, food handling, or environmental control measures is not yet available ^[1][2].

For surveillance purposes, cyclosporiasis should be read as a likely underdetected food- and water-borne parasitic disease with sparse epidemiologic data and probable underestimation of health impact ^[1]. Monitoring may be especially important in the setting of sporadic outbreaks and in contexts where intestinal parasitic infections occur despite development status ^[2][1]. The sources do not supply a case definition, laboratory surveillance standard, or timing marker for trend interpretation ^[1][2].

1. 1 Giangaspero A et al. Human cyclosporiasis. Lancet Infect Dis. 2019 Jul. PMID: 30885589. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(18)30789-8. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30885589/
2. 2 Hechenbleikner EM et al. Parasitic colitis. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2015 Jun. PMID: 26034403. doi: 10.1055/s-0035-1547335. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26034403/
3. 3 Theel ES et al. Parasites. Microbiol Spectr. 2016 Aug. PMID: 27726821. doi: 10.1128/microbiolspec.DMIH2-0013-2015. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27726821/
4. 4 Cyclosporiasis. Control of Communicable Diseases Clinical Practice. 2020. doi: 10.2105/ccdmc.3087.041. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2105/ccdmc.3087.041
5. 5 Cyclosporiasis. Red Book Atlas of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 2025. doi: 10.1542/9781610028233-41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/9781610028233-41
6. 6 Cyclosporiasis. Control of Communicable Diseases. 2019. doi: 10.2105/ccdml.2868.045. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2105/ccdml.2868.045

ICD-10

ICD-11

Total cases

7K

Peak month

2019-07

Coverage

1 reporting countries · 2019-01-12 → 2026-06-20