Cyclospora cayetanensis causes what disease in humans?

• A. Malaria
• B. Diabetes
• C. Biliary Disease
• D. Hypertension

Answer: (C)

Cyclospora cayetanensis causes an intestinal infection called cyclosporiasis. In humans, this tends to present with prolonged watery diarrhea, along with loss of appetite, weight loss, cramps, bloating, nausea, and sometimes a low-grade fever. The infection is food- and waterborne, often linked to contaminated fresh produce, and the parasite lives in the small intestine rather than the bloodstream or organs like the liver. Because of that, it is not malaria (a blood-stage infection caused by Plasmodium), not a metabolic condition like diabetes, and not a systemic or vascular disease like hypertension. Biliary disease involves the bile ducts, which is not the typical outcome of Cyclospora infection, since the hallmark is intestinal illness. Treatment usually involves specific antibiotics such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and prevention focuses on proper handling and washing of produce and safe water sources.