[Cyclosporidiosis: clinical and diagnostic characteristics of an epidemic outbreak].

BACKGROUND

Cyclospora cayetanensis, a coccidian parasite, has increasingly been recognized as a cause of gastrointestinal tract illness. We describe a group of patients with this infection.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to describe the observed clinical course and spectrum of the disease.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective study of 101 patients with diarrhea who attended the same wedding reception.

RESULTS

Mean incubation period was 8 days; commonly reported symptoms included diarrhea (91%), with 10 or more loose stools in a 24-h period. The illness had a characteristic waxing and waning course and in nearly 72% of patients there occurred symptom recurrence. Other reported symptoms in our patient group included vomiting and fever; 72% of patients had received antibiotics, mainly quinolones, without good response. Watercress was probable vehicle of transmission.

CONCLUSIONS

Cyclospora may cause severe diarrhea with a long incubation period and recurring symptoms, which should be considered in evaluation of prolonged gastrointestinal illness. To our knowledge, this is the first outbreak reported in Mexico.