title: Genetic characterization of Cryptosporidium species from humans in Spain.
abstract: Several species of Cryptosporidium have been associated with infection. Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis are the main agents of cryptosporidiosis in humans. Stool samples from 108 Cryptosporidium-infected patients were submitted to PCR-RFLP analysis for a 553-bp fragment of Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein (COWP) gene and an 826-864 bp fragment of the small-subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU-rRNA) gene. Ninety-two patients were immunocompetent children and 16 were HIV-infected adults. C. hominis was detected in 69 patients (59 immunocompetent and 10 HIV-infected); C. parvum, in 34 patients (28 immunocompetent and 6 HIV-infected); and C. meleagridis and C. felis in one patient each (both immunocompetent children). Three samples yielded negative results. C. parvum was significantly more frequent in children from rural areas than in those of urban residence (p=0.010). As far as we know, this is the first surveillance study about the molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium in humans performed in Spain. The finding of zoonotic species infecting humans calls for further research on this subject.
authors: Department of Microbiology, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Area of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zaragoza, C/Domingo Miral s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors: María Teresa
authors: MT
authors: Llorente
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Clavel
authors: María Pilar
authors: MP
authors: Goñi
authors: Marzo
authors: M
authors: Varea
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Seral
authors: Raquel
authors: R
authors: Becerril
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Suarez
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Gómez-Lus
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D020459:Genes, rRNA; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D033661:Oocysts / Q000737:chemistry; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012424:Rural Population; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C106305:oocyst wall protein, Cryptosporidium