infections
Microsporidiosis
Introduction
Microsporidiosis is infection caused by Microsporidia, which are parasitic fungi. Symptoms depend on the organs infected, but infections can cause diarrhea, other intestinal symptoms, or eye symptoms. Microsporidiosis causes symptoms mainly in people with a Overview of Immunodeficiency Disorders , such as people with Symptoms vary but include chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, weight loss, and eye inflammation. Doctors diagnose the infection by identifying microsporidia in a sample of the infected tissue or in stool, urine, or other body fluids. Drugs can control but not eliminate the infection. (See also Overview of Parasitic Infections .) Microsporidia used to be classified as protozoa but are now considered Overview of Fungal Infections . These spore-forming parasitic fungi live inside infected cells. Microsporidia may infect the intestine, liver, gallbladder, biliary tract (the tubes that connect the liver and gallbladder with the small intestine), eyes, sinuses, muscles, respiratory tract, urinary tract, and, occasionally, the brain. The infection may spread throughout the body. Several species of Microsporidia can cause infection in people, but symptoms occur mainly in those with advanced Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection or other disorders that severely weaken the immune system. People with a healthy immune system may develop eye symptoms if microsporidia infect the cornea. Microsporidia spread through spores, which can Be ingested Be inhaled Enter through tissues around the eye Be spread from person to person Be spread through contact with an infected animal Inside the body, microsporidia spores enter cells, where the spores develop, multiply, and form more spores. The infected cells eventually rupture, releasing the spores. The spores can then spread throughout the body, causing inflammation, or they can be excreted into the environment in the breath, stool, or urine. 