Chronic malabsorption due to cryptosporidiosis in a child with immunoglobulin deficiency

Abstract

Intestinal infection by protozoan parasites collectively called 'coccidia' is an important cause of mortality in domesticated animals. In the past 10 years there have been sporadic reports of malabsorption due to coccidiosis in humans. Most of these cases have been associated with coccidia which were thought to belong to the genus Isospora, and many of the affected patients have been on immunosuppressive drugs. The taxonomy of the coccidia is now better understood, and there have been a few recent reports of chronic malabsorption due to organisms of the genus Cryptosporidium. The patients so far reported have either been on immunosuppressive drugs or had primary immunodeficiency disorders. One of these patients had primary immunoglobulin deficiency and this paper reports a second similar case where the disease was fatal.