Single-cell organism’s complex biology makes infection difficult to eliminate
The Cyclospora parasite has been “wreaking havoc in people’s digestive systems over the past month,” NPR’s Pien Huang reported July 30. The organism starts as a single cell and passes through the human intestines to reproduce.
“Their complex biology contributes to why it’s so hard to kick, leading to infections that can last for weeks or months,” the report stated. The parasite’s replication cycle within the gut is what makes the illness persist — the organism establishes itself and multiplies rather than passing quickly through the digestive system.