Cryptosporidium, which belongs to enteric protozoan parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa, causes cryptosporidiosis in animals and humans.The disease was characterized by diarrhea. 隱孢子蟲屬於頂復門胞內寄生機會致病性原蟲,可感染人和多種動物,引起以腹瀉為主要癥狀的隱孢子蟲病,是危害全球的公共衛生問題,至今仍無有效的控制和治療手段。