To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.

 
 

Description

Microsporidiosis is an opportunistic infection caused by obligate intracellular pathogens within the taxon Microsporidia. Infection is zoonotic and has been associated with patients experiencing immunodeficiency, though incidence is increasing among other populations. Most commonly, the disease is gastrointestinal, typically by Enterocytozoon bieneusi and less commonly by Encephalitozoon intestinalis. Symptoms present with diarrhea and vomiting, and severe cases can lead to wasting and mortality. While the incorporation of anti-retroviral therapy for HIV patients has significantly decreased mortality in a subset of the vulnerable populations, treatment for microsporidiosis is still not standardized or well explored. Resistance to first-line treatment albendazole is increasing, and another antiparasitic fumagillin is not approved as a systemic treatment in the US. Given that microsporidiosis is an emerging disease that affects the global population, there is an increasing need to educate clinicians about clinical presentation and to review treatment strategies and opportunities.

Disciplines

Gastroenterology | Infectious Disease | Medical Education | Medical Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences | Parasitic Diseases | Primary Care

Document Type

Event

Share

COinS
 

Microsporidiosis: Reviewing clinical presentation and treatment strategies

Microsporidiosis is an opportunistic infection caused by obligate intracellular pathogens within the taxon Microsporidia. Infection is zoonotic and has been associated with patients experiencing immunodeficiency, though incidence is increasing among other populations. Most commonly, the disease is gastrointestinal, typically by Enterocytozoon bieneusi and less commonly by Encephalitozoon intestinalis. Symptoms present with diarrhea and vomiting, and severe cases can lead to wasting and mortality. While the incorporation of anti-retroviral therapy for HIV patients has significantly decreased mortality in a subset of the vulnerable populations, treatment for microsporidiosis is still not standardized or well explored. Resistance to first-line treatment albendazole is increasing, and another antiparasitic fumagillin is not approved as a systemic treatment in the US. Given that microsporidiosis is an emerging disease that affects the global population, there is an increasing need to educate clinicians about clinical presentation and to review treatment strategies and opportunities.