title: Cryptosporidium species and subtypes in diarrheal children and HIV-infected persons in Ebonyi and Nsukka, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cryptosporidiosis is a common disease of children and immune-compromised persons. This study evaluated the diversity and distribution of Cryptosporidium species in diarrheal children and HIV-infected persons on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and those not on HAART.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 394 fecal specimens were collected from patients attending clinics in Nsukka and Ebonyi, Nigeria. Detection and identification of Cryptosporidium species were conducted by PCR-RFLP of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene, whereas subtyping was done by sequence analysis of the 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five (6.3%) specimens yielded four Cryptosporidium species, including C. hominis, C. parvum, C. felis, and C. viatorum. C. hominis was the most dominant species with 48.0% occurrence and three identified subtype families: Ia (six specimens), Ib (three specimens), Ie (two specimens), and one un-subtyped species. C. parvum had 44.0% occurrence and two subtype families: IIc (eight specimens) and IIe (three specimens), while C. felis and C. viatorum each had 4.0% occurrence. There were significant differences in Cryptosporidium species distribution between age groups in children and HIV-infected persons, between suburban and urban areas, and between low and high CD4+ cell counts in HIV-infected patients. There were no significant differences in infection rate and species distribution between HIV-infected patients on HAART and those not on HAART.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results from this study show that there is a high diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. in humans in Ebonyi and Nsukka, Nigeria, and that all the C. parvum subtypes identified are most likely anthroponotic in origin.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria. bnukwah@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Boniface Nwofoke
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Ukwah
authors.forename: Ifeoma Maureen
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Ezeonu
authors.forename: Chinonyelum Thecla
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Ezeonu
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roellig
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S