Cryptosporidial enteritis in a patient with congenital hypogammaglobulinemia

Abstract

Cryptosporidium is a potentially pathogenic coccidial protoxoan known to inhabit the striated border of interestinal epithelium in several animal species. Recently two cases of human intestinal cryptosporidiosis have been described. The purpose of this report is to document a third case of chronic debilitating cryptosporidial enteritis in a young boy with congenital hypogammaglobulinemia. The endogenous protozoan life cycle and morphologic features are examined as studied by light and electron microscopy.