Many species of cryptosporidium can infect humans and a wide range of animals.
The parasite is protected by an outer shell that allows it to survive outside the body for hours and makes it resistant to chlorine disinfection.
Infection happens through contaminated material such as earth, water, and uncooked or cross-contaminated food that has been in contact with the feces of an infected individual or animal.
Millions of crypto organisms, or oocysts, can be released in the bowel movement of an infected human or animal. Infection happens after accidentally ingesting the oocysts.
It is prevalent amongst those who are in regular contact with fresh water, including swimming pools.
A person can get crypto by putting anything in the mouth that has touched the feces of an infected person or animal. Some outbreaks have happened in day care centers, as a result of diaper changes.
It is not spread by contact with blood.
Cryptosporidiosis is responsible for 50.8 percent of water-borne diseases that are attributed to parasites.
In developing countries, 8 to 19 percent of diarrheal diseases can be attributed to cryptosporidium.
The high resistance of cryptosporidium oocysts to disinfectants such as chlorine bleach enables them to survive for long periods and remain infective outside of a host body.