Cryptosporidium ubiquitum n. sp. in animals and humans.
A new species, Cryptosporidium ubiquitum, previously identified as the Cryptosporidium cervine genotype and infrequently as the cervid, W4 or genotype 3 genotype, is described. In published studies this genotype was reported in wild and domesticated ruminants, rodents, carnivores and primates including humans. In the present study oocysts were found in feces from a captive prehensile-tailed porcupine and her infant. Oocysts from the porcupine were transmitted to 4 boer goats. Oocysts from the goats were transmitted to a calf (calf 1) and oocysts from calf 1 were transmitted to gerbils and BALB/c mouse pups. Calf 2 housed near calf 1 became contaminated and excreted oocysts of C. ubiquitum. Oocysts collected from calf 2 were transmitted to a calf 3. When calf 2 stopped excreting C. ubiquitum oocysts it was challenged with oocysts of C. parvum and became infected, indicating a lack of cross-species immunity. Oocysts of C. ubiquitum from calf 1 measured 4.71-5.32 microm x 4.33-4.98 microm (mean=5.04 microm x4.66 microm) with a length/width shape index of 1.08 (n=50). Purified PCR products of the SSU rRNA, actin and COWP genes were sequenced and analysis of the 3 unlinked loci demonstrated the new species to be distinct from all other species and also demonstrated a lack of recombination, providing further evidence of species status. Based on morphological, molecular and biological data, this geographically widespread parasite infectious for a wide range of mammalian hosts is recognized as a new species and is named C. ubiquitum.
Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA. ronald.fayer@ars.usda.gov
Ronald
R
Fayer
Mónica
M
Santín
Dumitru
D
Macarisin
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000469:parasitology*
D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; C106305:oocyst wall protein, Cryptosporidium