title: Cryptosporidiumparvum oocysts in seawater clams (Chameleagallina) in Italy.
abstract: Bivalves filter large volumes of water and can concentrate organisms which are pathogenic for humans and animals. Our aim was to evaluate the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. in clams from the Adriatic coast (Abruzzo region) and genetically characterize the oocysts isolated from the clams. From March to July 2003, 960 specimens of clams (Chamelea gallina) present in nature were collected at 500 m from the Tordino, Tronto, Vibrata and Vomano river mouths on the Adriatic sea. The haemolymph and tissues were extracted from the specimens (240 per river mouth) after the specimens had been identified, measured and weighed (live weight). Immunofluorescence tests (IFA) were performed on pools (n = 32) of samples and oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. were detected in 23 pools of C. gallina. To identify the Cryptosporidium species, all the pools IFA-positive were tested by a PCR assay specific for the Cryptosporidium outer wall protein (COWP) gene. Positive amplicons then were sequenced and analysed. Two pools of clams were positive for Cryptosporidium parvum Genotype 2 (the "bovine" i.e. zoonotic genotype). This is the first time that C. parvum was found in clams from the Adriatic sea in Italy and the case might be of public health importance.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni, dell'Ingegneria e della Meccanica e dell'Economia Applicate ai Sistemi Agro-Zootecnici, Via Napoli 25, 71100 Foggia, Italy. a.giangaspero@unifg.it
authors.forename: Annunziata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giangaspero
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Molini
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iorio
authors.forename: Donato
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Traversa
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Paoletti
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giansante
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000469:parasitology*; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000662:veterinary; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D033661:Oocysts / Q000254:growth & development; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012623:Seawater / Q000469:parasitology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C106305:oocyst wall protein, Cryptosporidium