Genotypes of Cryptosporidium spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Human Immunodeficiency Virus‐Infected Patients in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi has improved our understanding of the transmission of both organisms in humans. In this study, to infer possible infection sources, Cryptosporidium spp. and E. bieneusi in fecal specimens from 90 HIV-infected patients attending antiretroviral clinics in Lagos, Nigeria were detected and genotyped by PCR and DNA sequencing. Cryptosporidium spp. and E. bieneusi were identified in four and five patients, respectively, including the occurrence of subtype IeA11T3G3 of Cryptosporidium hominis in two patients, subtype IIcA5G3k of Cryptosporidium parvum in one patient, and Type IV of E. bieneusi in four patients. Among the remaining positive patients, one had mixed infection of Cryptosporidium meleagridis and C. hominis and one had mixed E. bieneusi genotypes. These data highlight a possible difference in major transmission routes (anthroponotic vs. zoonotic) between Cryptosporidium spp. and E. bieneusi in HIV+ patients in the study area.

Cryptosporidium and Giardia in Africa: current and future challenges

“…Genotyping of Cryptosporidium species in Africa have identified at least 13 species and genotypes in humans including C. hominis , C. parvum , C. meleagridis, C. ubiquitum , C. viatorum , C. andersoni , C. bovis , C. canis , C. cuniculus , C. felis , C. muris , C. suis and C. xiaoi [23, 25, 26, 86, 97, 101, 102, 115, 139–142] (see Table 2). …”

“…Cryptosporidium meleagridis is also recognized as an important human pathogen in many African countries including Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia and Uganda [23, 25, 70, 86, 89, 101, 106, 114, 129, 140, 141, 146–154]. In immunocompromised individuals, the prevalence of C. meleagridis can reach 75% (3/4 of samples typed) [23, 25, 101, 146, 147, 151, 152], but also 75% (9/12 of samples typed) in immunocompetent individuals [86, 106, 114, 141, 149, 153, 155, 156].…”

“…In immunocompromised individuals, the prevalence of C. meleagridis can reach 75% (3/4 of samples typed) [23, 25, 101, 146, 147, 151, 152], but also 75% (9/12 of samples typed) in immunocompetent individuals [86, 106, 114, 141, 149, 153, 155, 156]. In comparison, the prevalence of C. meleagridis in the developed world is ~1% [66].…”

“…Cryptosporidium meleagridis was identified in both turkeys and chickens [93, 178] and C. baileyi has been identified in chickens [93]. All the species reported in domesticated animals, except for C. ryanae and C. baileyi , have been identified in humans from Africa [23, 25, 26, 97, 101, 102, 115, 139–142] (see Table 2), suggesting that domestic animals may act as zoonotic reservoirs for human infections. Humans working closely with farmed animals especially calves are known to be more at risk of zoonotic infection with C. parvum and may excrete oocysts without showing clinical symptoms and act as a source of infection for household members [118].…”

Infection by and genotype characteristics of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in HIV/AIDS patients from Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, China

“…Considerable genetic variation and genotypes exist within E. bieneusi isolates of human and animal origin, and different pathogenic characteristics and host specificity have been found for E. bieneus i [ 3 ]. Molecular diagnostic methods, especially methods that genotype and subtype pathogens, have been used to characterize the transmission of E. bieneusi in HIV patients [ 17 – 19 ]. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rRNA gene has been extensively used to identify and describe the genotype characteristics and transmission routes of E. bieneusi in humans and animals [ 20 , 21 ].…”