Microbiome diversity is a modifiable virulence factor for cryptosporidiosis

Cryptosporidium spp. infection causes significant disease in immunosuppressed individuals and children under the age of 5 years. The severity of the pathological presentation of cryptosporidiosis is a function of the host and parasite genotypes, host immune status, and the enteric environment or microbiome of the host. Cryptosporidiosis often presents with abdominal pain and severe diarrhoea and is associated with intestinal dysbiosis and inflammation. Our systematic analysis of the available literature revealed that bacterial diversity is reduced during infection in larger animal models, lending support to recent studies which indicate that the use of probiotics or the presence of a naturally diverse gut microbiome can prevent or minimise pathology caused by gastrointestinal pathogens. In summary, we present evidence that the presence of a diverse gut microbiome, natural or induced, reduces both symptomatic pathology and oocyst output.

Automated summary

Infection of Cryptosporidium spp. causes significant harm to immunosuppressed individuals and children under 5 years old. The severity of the disease depends on the genotypes of both the parasite and the host, the immune status of the host, and the gut environment or microbiome. Studies have shown that infection leads to reduced bacterial diversity in larger animal models, supporting recent findings that probiotics or naturally diverse gut microbiomes can prevent or minimize pathology caused by gastrointestinal pathogens.