Ortega and colleagues identified a novel parasite resembling C. muris in the feces of Peruvian patients and 2 U.S. patients, with symptoms resembling those of infections with Cryptosporidium. The parasite infected both immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts, but stained parasitic photos and electron microscope images revealed a parasite distinct from Cryptosporidium. (Order of authorship in the original publication: Ortega, Sterling, Gilman...) Available from nejm.org at this link.

(Thanks to Juan Weiss for this reference and its interpretation.)

Based on very high magnification electron transmission micrographs and contrast microscopy, Ortega and colleagues fully characterized the parasite and named it Cyclospora cayetanensis n. sp., naming it after Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru where they did the principal studies of the parasite. (Order of authorship in the original publication: Ortega, Gilman, Sterling.)

(Thanks to Juan Weiss for this reference and its interpretation.)