title: Genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. in captive reptiles.
abstract: The genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium in reptiles was analyzed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequence analysis of the small subunit rRNA gene. A total of 123 samples were analyzed, of which 48 snake samples, 24 lizard samples, and 3 tortoise samples were positive for Cryptosporidium: Nine different types of Cryptosporidium were found, including Cryptosporidium serpentis, Cryptosporidium desert monitor genotype, Cryptosporidium muris, Cryptosporidium parvum bovine and mouse genotypes, one C. serpentis-like parasite in a lizard, two new Cryptosporidium spp. in snakes, and one new Cryptosporidium sp. in tortoises. C. serpentis and the desert monitor genotype were the most common parasites and were found in both snakes and lizards, whereas the C. muris and C. parvum parasites detected were probably the result of ingestion of infected rodents. Sequence and biologic characterizations indicated that the desert monitor genotype was Cryptosporidium saurophilum. Two host-adapted C. serpentis genotypes were found in snakes and lizards.
authors.affiliation: Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA. lxiao@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Una M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Thaddeus K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Graczyk
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Limor
authors.forename: Lixia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kombert
authors.forename: Randy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Junge
authors.forename: Irshad M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Sulaiman
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Arrowood
authors.forename: Bretislav
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koudela
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Modrý
authors.forename: Altaf A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Lal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002417:Cattle; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D008116:Lizards / Q000382:microbiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D012104:Reptiles / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012911:Snakes / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal