coccidiosis /kok′sidē·ō″sis/ [Gk, kokkos + osis, condition] , a parasitic disease of tropical and subtropical regions caused by the ingestion of oocysts of the protozoon Isospora belli or I. hominis. Symptoms include fever, malaise, abdominal discomfort, and watery diarrhea. The infection is usually self-limited, lasting 1 to 2 weeks, but occasionally it persists, resulting in malabsorption syndrome and, rarely, death. No specific therapy has been found. Compare coccidioidomycosis.
