Cyclospora cayetanensis infects epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract, especially those of the duodenum and jejunum.  It is transmitted through the fecal-oral route. C. cayetanensis is excreted in stool in its noninfectious form, and requires certain environmental conditions, such as temperatures of 23-32ºC, to sporulate and become infectious.  Once ingested, from contaminated water and/or food, sporozoites are released from oocysts, and infect gastrointestinal cells.  It causes histological changes in the infected mucosa, which may include: loss of the brush border appearance, villous atrophy, crypt hyperplasia, and vacuolization of the tips of the villi.
Cyclosporiasis pathophysiology
Microsporidiosis pathophysiology
Cryptosporidiosis pathophysiology
Schistosomiasis pathophysiology
Trichomoniasis pathophysiology
Herpes simplex pathophysiology
Strongyloidiasis pathophysiology
African trypanosomiasis pathophysiology