title: Molecular characterization ofcryptosporidiumin children aged 0- 5 years with diarrhea in Jos, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cryptosporidiumis an important cause of diarrhea in children and immune-compromised individuals. Recent advances in molecular diagnostics have led to the discovery of subtype families that are thought to be more commonly associated with diarrhea. We aimed to isolate and characterizeCryptosporidiumspp among children with diarrhea in Jos, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stool samples were collected from165 children aged 0-5 years with diarrhea. Cryptosporidium oocysts were examined by wet mount preparation, using formalin ether and a modified acid fast staining method. DNA was extracted from positive samples using QIAamp DNA stool mini kit and PCR-RFLP assay was carried out after quantification. Genotyping and phylogenetic analysis were done to determine the subtype families and their relatedness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the 165 children studied, 8 (4.8%) were infected with Cryptosporidium. PCR-RFLP assay and genotype characterization found the followingCryptosporidium species: C. hominis6 (75%) andC. parvum2 (25.0%), with family subtypesId-5, Ie-1 and IIa-1, IId-1respectively.The most common species wasC. hominisand the frequent subtype wasC. hominis-Id5 (62.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cryptosporidiumis not an uncommon cause of diarrhea in children, withC. hominisbeing the dominant species. AlsoC. hominisId is the commonest sub-family subtype. Put together, zoonotic species may be an important cause of diarrhea in children aged 0-5 years in Jos, Nigeria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria; AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Joseph Aje
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Anejo-Okopi
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Julius Ocheme
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Okojokwu
authors.affiliation: AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria; Department of Pediatrics, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Augustine Odo
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ebonyi
authors.affiliation: AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria; Department of Pediatrics, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Emeka Uba
authors.initials: EU
authors.lastname: Ejeliogu
authors.affiliation: AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria; Department of Medicine, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Samson Ejiji
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Isa
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Onyemocho
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Audu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science, Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Edoama Edet
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Akpakpan
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Esther Ebere
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Nwachukwu
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Christabel Kelechi
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Ifokwe
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Murna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lar
authors.affiliation: AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria; Department of Pediatrics, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oguche
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
keywords: Children; Nigeria; PCR-RFLP; cryptosporidium; diarrhea; genotypes; molecular characterization