In which patient population are microsporidia primarily implicated in human disease?

Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites that primarily cause disease in immunocompromised individuals, such as those with HIV/AIDS, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, or individuals using immunosuppressive drugs. In these populations, the immune system is unable to adequately respond to infections, allowing microsporidia to proliferate and cause significant gastrointestinal and systemic disease.

Immunocompetent individuals typically do not exhibit symptoms even if they are exposed to microsporidia, as their immune systems are capable of controlling such infections. Therefore, understanding the increased susceptibility of the immunocompromised population is essential for diagnosing and treating infections caused by microsporidia effectively. In contrast, while pediatric patients and those with congenital immunodeficiencies may also be at risk, the predominant risk is more closely associated with a compromised immune status overall rather than specific age groups. Additionally, although travelers to tropical regions may encounter various pathogens, microsporidia are specifically linked to weakened immune responses rather than geographic exposure alone.