Cyclospora cayetanensis: background document for the WHO guidelines for drinking-water quality and the WHO guidelines on sanitation and health
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World Health Organization
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ii, 12 p.
Cyclospora cayetanensis is an intestinal protozoan parasite and the causative agent of cyclosporiasis, a diarrhoeal disease associated with faecal contamination of food and water. This background document supports the WHO Guidelines for drinking-water quality and the WHO Guidelines on sanitation and health by reviewing the biology, epidemiology, transmission pathways and environmental occurrence of the pathogen. The publication describes the clinical manifestations of infection, including watery diarrhoea, abdominal cramping, fatigue and weight loss, with more severe disease occurring in immunocompromised individuals. It also examines the global distribution of the parasite, its predominance in tropical and subtropical regions, and the association of infection with travel to endemic areas or consumption of contaminated produce and water. The document summarizes available evidence on the detection and persistence of Cyclospora oocysts in wastewater, surface water, groundwater, drinking-water, soils and crops. It highlights the importance of sanitation systems and water safety measures in preventing transmission, emphasizing the role of faecal contamination control throughout sanitation and drinking-water supply chains. The publication also discusses the limited effectiveness of chemical disinfectants against Cyclospora oocysts and the need for adequate treatment and filtration processes to reduce public health risks.
Cyclospora cayetanensis is an intestinal protozoan parasite and the causative agent of cyclosporiasis, a diarrhoeal disease associated with faecal contamination of food and water. This background document supports the WHO Guidelines for drinking-water quality and the WHO Guidelines on sanitation and health by reviewing the biology, epidemiology, transmission pathways and environmental occurrence of the pathogen. The publication describes the clinical manifestations of infection, including watery diarrhoea, abdominal cramping, fatigue and weight loss, with more severe disease occurring in immunocompromised individuals. It also examines the global distribution of the parasite, its predominance in tropical and subtropical regions, and the association of infection with travel to endemic areas or consumption of contaminated produce and water. The document summarizes available evidence on the detection and persistence of Cyclospora oocysts in wastewater, surface water, groundwater, drinking-water, soils and crops. It highlights the importance of sanitation systems and water safety measures in preventing transmission, emphasizing the role of faecal contamination control throughout sanitation and drinking-water supply chains. The publication also discusses the limited effectiveness of chemical disinfectants against Cyclospora oocysts and the need for adequate treatment and filtration processes to reduce public health risks.