RT Book, Section
A1 Warren, Cirle Alcantara
A2 Rudolph, Colin D.
A2 Rudolph, Abraham M.
A2 Lister, George E.
A2 First, Lewis R.
A2 Gershon, Anne A.
SR Print(0)
ID 7031771
T1 Chapter 350. Isosporiasis
T2 Rudolph's Pediatrics, 22e
YR 2011
FD 2011
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-149723-7
LK accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=7031771
RD 2024/04/25
AB Isospora  belli  is  another  coccidian  parasite  of  the  phylum  Apicomplexa  that  causes  human  isosporiasis.  I  belli  is  worldwide  in  distribution  but  is  more  common  in  tropical  and  subtropical  regions,  especially  Haiti,  Mexico,  Brazil,  El  Salvador,  tropical  Africa,  the  Middle  East,  and  Southeast  Asia.1  The  parasite  causes  diarrhea  in  both  immunocompetent  and  immunocompromised  children  and  adults.  In  the  United  States,  sporadic  outbreaks  (mostly  waterborne)  of  isosporiasis  have  been  reported  among  institutionalized  patients  and  daycare  centers.2,3  It  has  been  recognized  as  a  cause  of  diarrhea  among  travelers  to  endemic  areas;  immigrants;  and  persons  immunocompromised  by  hematologic  malignancy,  steroid  use,  or  HIV  infection.1,4-7  In  persons  with  AIDS,  low  CD4  cell  count  (especially  <  50  cells/μL),  multiple  infections,  and  poor  hygiene  have  been  noted  as  risk  factors.8,9  Transmission  occurs  primarily  by  the  fecal-oral  route,  but  sexual  transmission  has  also  been  implicated  among  men  who  have  sex  with  men.10