title: Microscopic and Molecular Detection ofCryptosporidium andersoniandCryptosporidium xiaoiin Wastewater Samples of Tehran Province, Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As a waterborne pathogen,Cryptosporidiumis one of the most common causes of gastroenteritis in human and hoofed livestock animals. This study aimed to investigate the distribution ofCryptosporidiumspp. in human and livestock wastewaters in Iran, by the 18S rRNA sequence analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 54 raw wastewater samples collected from three urban treatment plants and two slaughterhouses during 2014-2015 in Tehran, Iran. The presence of theCryptosporidiumoocysts was assessed by immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies. To characterize the oocysts at the molecular level, the 18S rRNA gene ofCryptosporidiumwas PCR amplified and sequenced.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 54 wastewater samples examined, 34 (62.9%) were positive forCryptosporidiumoocysts using the IFA. Of these, 70.5% (24/34) were positive by PCR, that 91.6% (22/24) were successfully sequenced. The species ofC. andersoni(95.4%) andC. xiaoi(4.6%) were detected in livestock wastewater samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  C. andersoniwas the majorCryptosporidiumsp. found in the aquatic environmental wastewater samples. The high rate of detection ofC. andersoniin domestic wastewater was probably the result of the predominancy of this species in cattle herds in Iran. The current study is the first report ofC. xiaoiin Iran.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran; Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Kareem
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hatam-Nahavandi
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohebali
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran, Iran; Center for Water Quality Research, Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir-Hossein
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mahvi
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keshavarz
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid-Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Najafian
authors.affiliation: Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Gastroenterology and Liver Disease Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mirjalali
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sasan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rezaei
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rezaeian
keywords: Cryptosporidium andersoni; Cryptosporidium xiaoi; Iran; Wastewater