title: Prevalence and molecular identification of Cryptosporidium isolates from pet lizards and snakes in Italy.
abstract: In order to acquire prevalence and genetic data on Cryptosporidium infections in captive lizards and snakes kept as pets, a survey was conducted on 150 individual reptiles from southern Italy. Fecal samples were preserved in 5% formalin and analyzed using a commercial immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for the detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts. IFA revealed the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in nine of the 150 samples examined (6.0%), precisely in 6/125 snakes (4.8%) and in 3/25 lizards (12.0%); all fecal samples tested negative for the presence of Giardia cysts. Molecular characterization based on nested PCR amplification and sequencing of the SSU-rRNA gene, revealed the presence of Cryptosporidium serpentis in three samples from snakes (Boa constrictor constrictor, Elapheguttata guttata guttata and Python molurus).
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Pathology and Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. lrinaldi@unina.it
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capasso
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Mihalca
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cirillo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cringoli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cacciò
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002988:Cloaca / Q000469:parasitology; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008116:Lizards / Q000469:parasitology*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000662:veterinary; D033661:Oocysts / Q000145:classification; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D057805:Pets / Q000469:parasitology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D017385:Sequence Homology; D012911:Snakes / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal