Association between Cryptosporidium infection and human leukocyte antigen class I and class II alleles.
BACKGROUND
Cryptosporidium species are a common cause of diarrhea, which can be severe and protracted in young children and immunocompromised individuals.


METHODS
A cohort of 226 Bangladeshi children aged 2-5 years was prospectively followed for >3 years to study the role of host genetics in susceptibility to infection, as well as the community impact of cryptosporidiosis on this population.


RESULTS
Ninety-six children (42.5%) received a diagnosis of Cryptosporidium infection. A total of 51 (22.6%) had asymptomatic infection. Fifty-eight (25.7%) had cryptosporidiosis, of whom 17 (29.3%) had recurrent disease. Children with cryptosporidiosis presented early, and most had abdominal pain and a short course of diarrhea. Infected children were more likely to carry the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II DQB1*0301 allele, particularly those with both asymptomatic and symptomatic infection (P = .009); a strong association was found between carriage of the DQB1*0301/DRB1*1101 haplotype and development of both asymptomatic and symptomatic infection (P = .009). Infected children were also more likely to carry the B*15 HLA class I allele.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study to describe a possible genetic component of the immune response to Cryptosporidium infection, which includes HLA class I and II alleles. Cryptosporidiosis in Bangladeshi children aged 2-5 year is common and often recurrent, but the duration is shorter and the abdominal pain greater than that described in children aged <2 years.
Kirkpatrick
Beth D
BD
University of Vermont College of Medicine, Unit of Infectious Diseases, Burlington, VT 05405, USA. beth.kirkpatrick@uvm.edu
Haque
Rashidul
R
Duggal
Priya
P
Mondal
Dinesh
D
Larsson
Cathy
C
Peterson
Kristine
K
Akter
Jasmin
J
Lockhart
Lauren
L
Khan
Salwa
S
Petri
William A
WA
D000818:Animals; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D012016:Reference Values
D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I