Infectious Disease Compendium

Encephalitozoon

Microbiology

A microsporidia, E. cuniculi (a rabbit pathogen), E. hellem, E. intestinalis (humans).

Epidemiologic Risks

Water contact.

Syndromes

Watery diarrhea that can be refractory in the immunologically incompetent, aka AIDS. One of the causes of microsporidiosis.

A weird cause of prosthetic joint loosening "Encephalitozoon cuniculi should be considered as a cause of osteolysis in hip periprosthetic tissue, leading to a loss of implant stability (PubMed)."

Treatment

Albendazole, 400 mg bid x 3 weeks (PubMed).

Notes

Last update: 05/05/18