Microsporidiosis in Humans

This chapter focuses on the clinical manifestations associated with microsporidiosis including overviews on the epidemiology and immune response to these parasites, approaches to diagnose infection, and strategies to treat or prevent infection and disease. Reactivation of infection in infected immune-competent mice administered corticosteroids and persistence of infection in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice even with albendazole administration have been described. Animal models and human studies have demonstrated that the humoral arm of the immune system is also involved during the host response to this infection. Successful fumagillin treatment was reported in humans with microsporidiosis. Proper hygiene is the optimal strategy to prevent microsporidiosis from environmental sources. Customary sterilization approaches, including frequent hand washing, and the use of common disinfectants such as bleach are standard procedures which can be employed to kill parasite spores or render them noninfectious.