Abstract

GATTA, Claudia Liliana; ARIAS, Liliana Eugenia; JUDCOVSKI, Laura Susana  and  MENGHI, Claudia Irene. Cyclospora cayetanensis: diagnóstico de un coccidio poco frecuente en la Argentina. Acta bioquím. clín. latinoam. [online]. 2021, vol.55, n.2, pp.191-194. ISSN 0325-2957.

Cyclospora cayetanensis is an intestinal coccidium related to epidemic outbreaks due to consumption of food and water contaminated with sporulated oocysts. It predominates in tropical and subtropical regions and may cause gastrointestinal symptoms which are more severe in immunocompromised patients, to whom it may cause extraintestinal infections. Diagnosis is made by the microscopic observation of oocysts between 8 and 10 microns in size, with refractile globules inside of them. This diagnosis is confirmed by acid-fast staining where oocysts are observed red-stained. With ultraviolet epifluorescence, they stand out as bright blue or green staining circles. The aim of this report is to communicate the diagnosis of C. cayetanensis in an immunocompromised patient, born in Peru, but currently living in a vulnerable neighbourhood of Buenos Aires city. To our knowledge, this would be the sixth case of C. cayetanensis diagnosed in Argentina.

Keywords : Cyclospora cayetanensis; Diagnosis in Argentina; Non endemic area.