Genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. in captive reptiles

• Published in: Applied and Environmental Microbiology Vol. 70; no. 2; pp. 891 - 899
• Main Authors: Xiao, L, Ryan, U.M, Graczyk, T.K, Limor, J, Li, L, Kombert, M, Junge, R, Sulaiman, I.M, Zhou, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for Microbiology 01.02.2004
• Subjects: animal parasites and pests; Animals; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Cattle; cryptosporidiosis; Cryptosporidiosis - microbiology; Cryptosporidiosis - veterinary; Cryptosporidium; Cryptosporidium - classification; Cryptosporidium - genetics; Cryptosporidium - growth & development; disease transmission; DNA, Ribosomal - analysis; epidemiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; genes; Genetic diversity; Genetic Variation; Genotype; Lacertilia; lizards; Lizards - microbiology; Microbiology; Molecular Sequence Data; nucleotide sequences; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Public Health Microbiology; Reptiles & amphibians; Reptiles - microbiology; restriction fragment length polymorphism; Ribonucleic acid; ribosomal RNA; RNA; RNA, Ribosomal - genetics; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Serpentes; snakes; Snakes - microbiology; tortoises; zoo animals; Protozoa; Cryptosporidium; Apicomplexa; Vertebrata; Captivity; Genetic diversity; Reptilia
• ISSN: 0099-2240; 1098-5336
• DOI: 10.1128/AEM.70.2.891-899.2004

The genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium in reptiles was analyzed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequence analysis of the small subunit rRNA gene. A total of 123 samples were analyzed, of which 48 snake samples, 24 lizard samples, and 3 tortoise samples were positive for Cryptosporidium. Nine different types of Cryptosporidium were found, including Cryptosporidium serpentis, Cryptosporidium desert monitor genotype, Cryptosporidium muris, Cryptosporidium parvum bovine and mouse genotypes, one C. serpentis-like parasite in a lizard, two new Cryptosporidium spp. in snakes, and one new Cryptosporidium sp. in tortoises. C. serpentis and the desert monitor genotype were the most common parasites and were found in both snakes and lizards, whereas the C. muris and C. parvum parasites detected were probably the result of ingestion of infected rodents. Sequence and biologic characterizations indicated that the desert monitor genotype was Cryptosporidium saurophilum. Two host-adapted C. serpentis genotypes were found in snakes and lizards.