What is Cyclospora and Cyclosporiasis?

Cyclospora is a protozoan pathogen linked clinically to acute, chronic diarrhea. Infection with the parasite is referred to as Cyclosporiasis. It was not until 1977 and 1978 that the first three diagnosed cases of Cyclospora were reported, though at the time they did not know wha they had identified – it was not until the next year in 1979, that scientist RW Arthur would identify Cyclospora for what it was, a parasite.[1] At the time he was working as a scientist in Papua New Guinea when he discovered the parasite that was transmitted through feces.[2] He also noted that the oocysts (the organism shed by the infected person) was immature and could not infect others at the time it was infected, as well as how difficult identification of an infected person would be because the unsporulated oocysts looked like fungus spores. To this day, identification of Cyclospora requires a pathogen-specific test.

Cyclospora is endemic not only to Papua New Guinea, but to Peru, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and other Latin America countries. It is not endemic to the United States or Canada. As such, it was traditionally been called the travelling disease, or travelers’ diarrhea since it has become the subject of more research (mostly since 1990).

But with the strong growth of imported foods, many form Mexico and Central America, it has become a common source of pathogenic outbreak in the Unites States. By 2017, Cyclospora had become a routine finding by health agencies and epidemiologists among people who had no international travel, with numerous large-scale outbreaks linked to cilantro, lettuce, and other fruits and vegetables. Ironically, the shipping process allows the unsporulated oocysts to mature allowing for infection upon ingestion of the contaminated produce once here.

How does Cyclospora infect victims? What are the symptoms of Cyclosporiasis?

The Cyclospora parasite requires time (days to weeks) after being passed in a bowel movement to become contagious to other humans, which makes human to human direct infection difficult.[3] Instead, the parasite contaminates food or water and is then consumed, thereafter with an incubation period of days to weeks it presents with a prolonged illness, often noted by the ebb and flow (recurrence) of acute symptoms for 100 days or more. According to the CDC, “the period between becoming infected and becoming sick is usually around 1 week. Cyclospora infects the small intestine (bowel) and usually causes watery diarrhea, with frequent, sometimes explosive, bowel movements. Other common symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, gut cramps/pain, bloating, increased gas, nausea, and tiredness. Vomiting, body aches, fever, headache, and other flu-like symptoms might be noted. Some men and women that are infected with Cyclospora don’t have any signs.” Symptoms may include:

• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Abdominal cramps
• Bloating
• Increased gas
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Low Fever

According to the CDC, “health care providers must think about a diagnosis of cyclosporiasis in patients with protracted or remitting-relapsing diarrheal illness.” But because most U.S. laboratories do not test for Cyclospora, even if stool is analyzed for parasites, the CDC has noted that healthcare professionals need to specifically arrange testing for Cyclospora – a Cyclospora screen. Testing can be performed via ova and parasite examination, using molecular approaches, or via a gastrointestinal pathogen panel evaluation.

Since Cyclosporiasis is a nationally notifiable disease, healthcare professionals must report suspected and confirmed cases of disease to public health jurisdictions.

Treatment of Cyclospora

Cyclospora is not a bacteria, but in 1995 while conducting research in Nepal, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial researchers found that TMP-SMZ was effective in treating the illness[4] – TMP-SMZ is highly effective in cutting the disease short. Unfortunately, some people are allergic to sulfa-based antibiotics and must rely on largely inefficient and ineffective secondary protocols.

How can a Cyclospora Attorney help preserve my legal rights?

Individuals with symptoms linked to Cyclospora should contact their healthcare provider for treatment immediately. In many of the recent cases of a large Cyclospora outbreak, the victims have found out their likely diagnosis on television before they presented for a Cyclospora test. Many had been in and out of their physician’s offices without satisfaction, often with negative stool cultures leaving both the victim and the medical professional wondering about the etiology of the disease. But in several recent outbreaks, such as the recent Del Monte vegetable tray outbreak, the McDonald’s Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad outbreak, and the previous Olive Garden/Red Lobster salad outbreak, news coverage put many victims on notice and they presented to their physicians’ offices for testing.

Many of the victims were sick for weeks or months prior to finding out they had Cyclospora. Many were extremely worried given the severity of their illness, the attendant weight loss, with thoughts this could be cancer or another terminal illness.

If you or somebody you know has positively tested for Cyclospora. Contact Ron Simon & Associates for help with your Cyclospora lawsuit or assistance during a Cyclospora Outbreak toll free at 1-888.335.4901.