Protozoan infections of the gastrointestinal tract

The review provides current views on human protozoan parasites of the gut. The recognition of the importance of cryptosporidium, cyclospora and microsporidia over the last three decades emphasises the possibility that more pathogenic intestinal protozoa are presently unrecognized. Each of these is a zoonotic infection and the potential for a zoonotic element to the transmission of giardiasis has been recognized. A common theme in increased understanding of the biology and pathological mechanisms involved in causing disease is the application of molecular techniques to the various stages of the parasite life cycle. Molecular methods are increasingly contributing to laboratory diagnosis of these conditions with increased yields of positive results though in the tropics it is likely that fecal microscopy will remain the standard for some time to come. The nitroimidazole compounds are the mainstay of treatment for giardia and amebiasis with no major advance in therapeutics since their role was appreciated. Nitazoxanide was shown to be effective for cryptosporidiosis in the 1990s.