title: Identification of Cryptosporidium subtype isolates from HIV-seropositive patients in Equatorial Guinea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cryptosporidium spp. are enteric parasites that infect humans and animals. In immunocompromised patients infection can be fatal. This study was conducted to identify sub-populations of Cryptosporidium hominis and C. parvum isolates from HIV-seropositive patients in Equatorial Guinea.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a previous study conducted in Equatorial Guinea, faecal samples from 171 HIV patients with gastrointestinal symptoms were analyzed. Of these, 13 and 17 were positive for C. hominis and C. parvum, respectively. The isolates were characterized using gp60 gene analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The gp60 gene could only be detected in 57% (17/30) of cases (10 C. parvum and 7 C. hominis). Three C. hominis (Ia, Ib and Id) and two C. parvum (IIc and IIe) subtype families were detected, including several subtypes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study identified a high diversity of Cryptosporidium subtypes, suggesting that anthroponotic transmission plays an important role in the epidemiology of Cryptosporidium spp. in HIV-seropositive patients in Equatorial Guinea.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: María A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montoya
authors.affiliation: Centro de Referencia para el Control de Endemias (Guinea Ecuatorial) - Centro Nacional de Medicina Tropical, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Asunción
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iborra
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain ifuentes@isciii.es.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fuentes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016703:Equatorial Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan
keywords: Cryptosporidium; Equatorial Guinea; HIV-seropositive; Subtype; Subtype family; gp60