This product detects the protozoa Cryptosporidium parvum, an obligate intracellular parasite of the phylum Apicomplexa. The genome of C. parvum is one of the smallest among unicellular eukaryotic organisms.

C. parvum is one of several species that cause cryptosporidiosis; a disease affecting the intestines of mammals and is spread through the fecal-oral route. The main symptom is self-limiting diarrhea in people with intact immune systems. However, in immunocompromised individuals, such as AIDS patients, infection can cause permanent & life-threatening diarrhea. Cryptosporidiosis is one of the most common waterborne diseases worldwide.

Cryptosporidium