Acute Communicable Disease Control

County of Los Angeles
Department of Public Health
Acute Communicable Disease Control
313 N. Figueroa Street, #212
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 240-7941
Fax: (213) 482-4856
Email:acdc2@ph.lacounty.gov

Cryptosporidiosis (cryp·to·spo·ri·di·o·sis)
Click to View Cryptosporidiosis Life Cycle 

Cryptosporidiosis is transmitted by the fecal-oral route (for example, swallowing contaminated recreational/untreated water, eating raw or undercooked contaminated food) by ingestion of cysts of the parasite Cryptosporidium parvum. The usual incubation period is 2-10 days with typical symptoms of watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and low-grade fever; however, asymptomatic infection is also common. The symptoms last up to 2 weeks in healthy individuals. Those who have a weakened immune system may experience prolonged illness.

Immunocompromised individuals (e.g., HIV/AIDS patients, cancer patients, transplant patients), young children and pregnant women are at risk for more severe illness.

• Los Angeles County: Annual Morbidity Reports (2002-2016) 
• ACDC: A Manual of Departmental Rules, Regulations and Control Procedures  
• LAC Report Form Cryptosporidiosis 
  • LAC: ACDC's Epidemiologic Case History Forms Web Page  
  • LAC: Reported Cases of Selected Diseases (2011-2016) 
  • LAC: Reported Cases of Selected Diseases (2005-2010) 
  • LAC: Reported Cases of Selected Diseases (1999-2004) 
• ACDC: Food and Water Safety Page

• CDC: Cryptosporidiosis