cryptosporidium

noun

cryp·​to·​spo·​rid·​i·​um ˌkrip-tō-spȯr-ˈi-dē-əm 

plural cryptosporidia ˌkrip-tō-spȯr-ˈi-dē-ə 

: any of a genus (Cryptosporidium of the order Coccidia) of protozoans parasitic in the gut of vertebrates including humans and sometimes causing diarrhea

Examples of cryptosporidium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The parasite cryptosporidium, known as crypto, was the most common cause of waterborne disease outbreaks associated with these recreational spaces, with 91% of cases. —Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 4 Dec. 2024

These untreated juices could contain salmonella, e. coli and cryptosporidium parasites. —Marina Watts, People.com, 4 Oct. 2024

Additional information on cryptosporidium can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website. —Aaron Valdez, The Enquirer, 16 Aug. 2024

The cryptosporidium parasite causes a gastrointestinal illness marked by abdominal cramps, watery diarrhea, low-grade fever, vomiting and nausea. —Aaron Valdez, The Enquirer, 16 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, genus name, from crypto- crypto- + sporidium "small spore," from spora spore entry 1 + -idium -idium

Note: Taxon introduced by the American physician and parasitologist Ernest E. Tyzzer (1875-1965) in "A sporozoan found in the peptic glands of the common mouse," Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, vol. 5 (1907-08), pp. 12-13.

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

cryptosporidium

noun

cryp·​to·​spo·​rid·​i·​um ˌkrip-tō-spȯr-ˈid-ē-əm 

1

capitalized : a genus of protozoans of the order Coccidia that are parasitic in the gut of many vertebrates including humans and that sometimes cause diarrhea especially in individuals who are immunocompromised (as in AIDS)

2

plural cryptosporidia -ē-ə  : any protozoan of the genus Cryptosporidium