The population structure of the Cryptosporidium parvum population in Scotland: a complex picture.
We genotyped 297 Scottish C. parvum samples using micro- and minisatellites. Treated as a single population, the population structure was epidemic. When regional populations were analysed, there was evidence of sub-population structure variations. This was dependent upon excluding sub-groups exhibiting significant genetic distance from the main population, implying genetic sub-structuring. We tested the hypothesis that these sub-groups originated outside the UK and demonstrated that one sub-group clustered with Peruvian samples. A geographically comprehensive panel of isolates would fully confirm this result. These data indicate limited sub-structuring within a small geographical area, but substantial sub-structuring over larger geographical distances. Host movement influences parasite diversity and population structure, evidenced by strong correlation (r(2) = 0.9686) between cattle movements and parasite diversity. Thus, the population structure of C. parvum is complex, with sub-populations differing in structure and being influenced by host movements, including the introduction of novel multilocus genotypes from geographically distinct regions.
Morrison
Liam J
LJ
Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, 120 University Place, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK. lm78y@udcf.gla.ac.uk
Mallon
Marianne E
ME
Smith
Huw V
HV
MacLeod
Annette
A
Xiao
Lihua
L
Tait
Andy
A
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000235:genetics*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D005787:Gene Frequency; D040961:Genetic Drift; D005819:Genetic Markers; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D005838:Genotype; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D009068:Movement; D010802:Phylogeny; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology
D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D005819:Genetic Markers