Microsporidia species causing widespread infection include:
(1) Encephalitozoon hellem
(2) Encephalitozoon intestinalis (Septata intestinalis)
(3) Encephalitozoon bieneusi
(3) Encephalitozoon cuniculi
Some species spread between contiguous organs, while E. intestinalis can cause widespread infections.
Organs involved may include:
(1) small intestine
(2) pancreas
(3) biliary tract
(4) lung
(5) eye
(6) sinuses
(7) urinary tract
(8) central nervous system
The patient may be asymptomatic but may have one or more of the following:
(1) chronic diarrhea
(2) fever
(3) cholangitis
(4) sinusitis
(5) bronchitis
(6) keratoconjunctivitis
(7) renal failure
(8) CNS symptoms
Features of an infected patient:
(1) The patient has AIDS or other severe immunodeficiency including renal transplant.
(2) The organism has been isolated from one or more specimens (stool, urine, duodenal aspirate, sputum, sinus aspirate).
(3) The patient improves while on albendazole (some may relapse on discontinuation).
(4) Exclusion of another diagnosis that can explain the findings better.
