The patient was a 3-year old female referred to the pediatric clinic with a 5 week history of diarrhea. It was characterized as green and often watery. Although potty trained, she was occasionally incontinent of feces. She had no fever, nausea or vomiting. She was an only child who attended group day care and her mother had diarrhea for 3 days about 1 month previously. The family drank filtered water. Her physical examination was unremarkable. Upon stool examination, a typical unicellular protozoan parasite was seen under direct fluorescent microscopy.
1) what kind of parasites can cause such diarrhea?
2) Are there virulence factors of this pathogen?
3) This organism is of particular concern in children day care settings. Why?
4) Why can this organism cause outbreaks of infection that can affect thousands of individuals.
5) How are these infections typically diagnosed?
***Please note that I have my gut instinct on the amoeba species but it may be cryptosporidiosis or giardia. Any concrete ideas? I need to present the case by Monday. I don't need the answers to 2-5. I just need to know what the species is. Thank you very much in advance And please, if you don't know the answer, don't reply.
