Cryptosporidium parvum genotype 2 infections in free-ranging mountain gorillas (Gorilla gorilla beringei) of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda.
For behavioral research and due to growing ecotourism, some populations of free-ranging mountain gorillas (Gorilla gorilla beringei) have become habituated to humans. Molecular analysis of two Cryptosporidium sp. oocyst isolates originating from two human-habituated gorilla groups and two oocyst isolates from non-habituated gorillas yielded positive identification of C. parvum Genotype 2 (G2; i.e., "cattle", "animal-adapted", or "zoonotic"). As G2 is cross-transmissible between humans and animals, C. parvum infections can be propagated in the habitats of human-habituated, free-ranging gorillas through both zoonotic and anthroponotic transmission cycles.
Graczyk
T K
TK
Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. tgraczyk@jhsph.edu
DaSilva
A J
AJ
Cranfield
M R
MR
Nizeyi
J B
JB
Kalema
G R
GR
Pieniazek
N J
NJ
D000818:Animals; D018420:Ape Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005838:Genotype; D006071:Gorilla gorilla / Q000469:parasitology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology
D016054:DNA, Protozoan