Common occurrence of Cryptosporidium hominis in children attending day-care centers in Medellin, Colombia.

Cryptosporidium spp. are apicomplexan protozoa associated with chronic diarrhea in AIDS and other immunocompromised patients, and one of the commonest causes of childhood diarrhea and malnutrition, particularly in low-income settings. In Colombia, there are few molecular epidemiological studies on Cryptosporidium spp.; thereby, the transmission dynamics of this parasite in the country is poorly known. This study evaluated the diversity of Cryptosporidium at species, subtype family, and subtype level in children attending various day-care centers in Medellin, Colombia. Two hundred and ninety stool samples from children < 5 years of age were collected from April to November of 2015. All samples were processed by PCR and sequence analysis of the ssu RNA gene and the gp60 gene. An infection rate of 2.4% was observed, with only two Cryptosporidium species identified: C. hominis (6/7) and C. meleagridis (1/7). Cryptosporidium hominis isolates belonged to the subtypes IbA10G2, IaA13R6 and IaA13R7; IIIbA26G1R1 C. meleagridis subtype was also detected. There is a C. hominis predominance in the children evaluated, suggesting an important role of the anthroponotic transmission cycle in the day-care centers analyzed. Further investigation is required to determine infection sources and susceptible hosts in order to define appropriate management of cryptosporidiosis.

Prevalence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. in Père Davids deer (Elaphurus davidianus) in Jiangsu, China / Prevalência e caracterização molecular de Cryptosporidium spp. no cervo de Père David (Elaphurus davidianus) em Jiangsu, China

Cryptosporidium is a zoonotic parasite that causes diarrhea in a broad range of animals, including deer. Little is known about the prevalence and genotype of Cryptosporidium spp. in Père Davids deer. In this study, 137 fecal samples from Père Davids deer were collected between July 2017 and August 2018 in the Dafeng Reserve and analyzed for Cryptosporidium spp. by nested-PCR based on the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene, followed by sequence analyses to determine the species. The 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene was used to characterize Cryptosporidium spp. Among 137 samples, 2 (1.46%) were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. according to SSU rRNA gene sequencing results. Both samples belonged to the Cryptosporidium deer genotype, with two nucleotide deletions and one nucleotide substitution. The prevalence data and molecular characterization of this study provide basic knowledge for controlling and preventing Cryptosporidium infections in Père Davids deer in this area.(AU)

Cryptosporidium é um parasita zoonótico que causa diarreia em uma ampla gama de animais, incluindo veados. Pouco se sabe sobre a prevalência e o genótipo de Cryptosporidium spp. no cervo de Père David. Neste estudo, 137 amostras fecais do cervo de Père David foram coletadas entre julho de 2017 e agosto de 2018, na Reserva Dafeng, e analisadas para Cryptosporidium spp. por nested-PCR baseado no gene do RNA ribossômico da subunidade pequena (SSU rRNA), seguido de análises de sequências para determinar as espécies. O gene da glicoproteína de 60 kDa (gp60) foi utilizado para caracterizar Cryptosporidium spp. Dentre as 137 amostras, 2 (1,46%) foram positivas para Cryptosporidium spp. de acordo com os resultados do sequenciamento gênico de SSU rRNA. Ambas as amostras pertenciam ao genótipo do cervo Cryptosporidium, com duas deleções nucleotídicas e uma substituição nucleotídica. Os dados de prevalência e a caracterização molecular deste estudo fornecem conhecimentos básicos para controlar e prevenir infecções por Cryptosporidium nos cervos de Père David nessa.(AU)

Prevalence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. in Père Davids deer (Elaphurus davidianus) in Jiangsu, China / Prevalência e caracterização molecular de Cryptosporidium spp. no cervo de Père David (Elaphurus davidianus) em Jiangsu, China

Abstract Cryptosporidium is a zoonotic parasite that causes diarrhea in a broad range of animals, including deer. Little is known about the prevalence and genotype of Cryptosporidium spp. in Père David's deer. In this study, 137 fecal samples from Père David's deer were collected between July 2017 and August 2018 in the Dafeng Reserve and analyzed for Cryptosporidium spp. by nested-PCR based on the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene, followed by sequence analyses to determine the species. The 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene was used to characterize Cryptosporidium spp. Among 137 samples, 2 (1.46%) were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. according to SSU rRNA gene sequencing results. Both samples belonged to the Cryptosporidium deer genotype, with two nucleotide deletions and one nucleotide substitution. The prevalence data and molecular characterization of this study provide basic knowledge for controlling and preventing Cryptosporidium infections in Père David's deer in this area.

Resumo Cryptosporidium é um parasita zoonótico que causa diarreia em uma ampla gama de animais, incluindo veados. Pouco se sabe sobre a prevalência e o genótipo de Cryptosporidium spp. no cervo de Père David. Neste estudo, 137 amostras fecais do cervo de Père David foram coletadas entre julho de 2017 e agosto de 2018, na Reserva Dafeng, e analisadas para Cryptosporidium spp. por nested-PCR baseado no gene do RNA ribossômico da subunidade pequena (SSU rRNA), seguido de análises de sequências para determinar as espécies. O gene da glicoproteína de 60 kDa (gp60) foi utilizado para caracterizar Cryptosporidium spp. Dentre as 137 amostras, 2 (1,46%) foram positivas para Cryptosporidium spp. de acordo com os resultados do sequenciamento gênico de SSU rRNA. Ambas as amostras pertenciam ao genótipo do cervo Cryptosporidium, com duas deleções nucleotídicas e uma substituição nucleotídica. Os dados de prevalência e a caracterização molecular deste estudo fornecem conhecimentos básicos para controlar e prevenir infecções por Cryptosporidium nos cervos de Père David nessa.

New Cryptosporidium parvum subtypes of IIa subfamily in dairy calves from Brazil.

Bovine cryptosporidiosis is mainly caused by four distinct species: Cryptosporidium parvum, C. bovis, C. ryanae and C. andersoni. The first, C. parvum, is a major concern in livestock causing economic losses, in addition to public health impact because of its zoonotic characteristics. The present study aimed to determine the occurrence of different species and subtypes of Cryptosporidium using molecular techniques. A total of 143 fecal samples were collected from calves from three dairy farms located in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Saturated sugar centrifugal flotation method was used for the microscopic evaluation of the samples. Among these samples, 19.6% (28) were positive by microscopy, and 82.1% (23) of these 28 samples had their diagnosis confirmed by PCR using 18S as gene target. After sequencing, three species of Cryptosporidium were found to infect calves in different age groups. In pre-weaning phase (<2 months), 10% (3/30) of the calves were infected with C. parvum, whereas 14.2% (16/113) of post-weaning calves (≥2 months) were observed to be infected with C. andersoni and 1.8% (2/113) by C. ryanae with the latter diagnosed for the first time in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Those samples identified as C. parvum were further characterized at the GP60 locus, and PCR products were cloned. Eight different subtypes (IIaA20G2R1, IIaA20G2R2, IIaA19G2R1, IIaA19G2R2, IIaA18G1R1, IIaA18G2R2, IIaA16G3R2 and IIaA14G2R2) of C. parvum were identified, all belonging to the IIa family subtype, which is considered of high zoonotic potential. The subtypes mentioned above have not yet been detected in Brazilian cattle, and four of these subtypes (IIaA20G2R2, IIaA19G2R2, IIaA18G2R2 and IIaA14G2R2) had not been diagnosed elsewhere in calves until this study.