Cryptosporidiosis is a leading cause of persistent diarrhoea in developing countries due to the presence of Cryptosporidium parvum in the gastrointestinal tract. This parasite is recognised as a highly infectious enteric pathogen and infective stage is transmitted by the fecal-oral route. It is also a serious opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised individuals without effective therapeutic treatments. Symptoms of cryptosporidiosis include watery diarrhoea, stomach cramps, weight loss, nausea and sometimes fever. In industrialised countries, 2 to 2.5% of persons admitted to hospital and suffering of diarrhoea eliminate oocysts. 10% AIDS patients are suffering from chronic cryptosporidiosis and this figure rises up to 40% in some undeveloped countries.

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