Cryptosporidium : An Emerging Concern for the Food Industry.

Cryptosporidium is a protozoon producing infective oocysts causing human diarrhea that is fatal under certain conditions. The disease, Cryptosporidiosis, has been reported in 18 animal species to date. Each species can transmit the disease to man. No drug or treatment regime has effected a cure of cryptosporidiosis in man or animals. Standard cleaning and sanitizing solutions are not effective against Cryptosporidium , but the oocysts are susceptible to heat and drying. Simple diagnostic tests are available for detection of oocysts in feces; however, they are not devised for food materials. Testing procedures are needed for routine detection of Cryptosporidium in animal food products and potentially contaminated food products. Then an evaluation of the magnitude of the problem in the food industry can be done.