Genotypic Characterization ofCryptosporidiumSpecies in Humans and Peri-Domestic Animals in Ekiti and Oyo States, Nigeria

Abstract

Cryptosporidiosis is one of the leading causes of diarrhea in humans and several vertebrates species. Because surveys of Cryptosporidium genotypes from animals and humans living in the same region are rare, our understanding of the importance of zoonotic transmission in the epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis remains superficial. PCR was used to amplify a portion of the Cryptosporidium 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA gene from fecal DNA from humans and livestock living in Ekiti and Oyo state, Nigeria. PCR-positive samples were further analyzed using PCR targeting the heat-shock protein HSP-70, the actin and the sporozoite glycoprotein gene gp60. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic information. Sixteen of 187 samples collected were Cryptosporidium 18S PCR positive. Of these, 5 samples originating from HIV-positive patients, 5 from otherwise healthy children, 2 from chickens, 3 from goats and 1 from a dog were positive for at least one marker. Sequencing of the 18S rRNA amplicons revealed the presence of Cryptosporidium parvum in two HIV positive patients and in a child; the actin sequence confirmed the presence of this species. Two samples of HIV-positive patients amplified C. hominis 18S rRNA, one of them confirmed by the HSP-70, actin and gp60 sequences. C. meleagridis was found in another HIV patient, while C. hominis was detected in three children (of which two were confirmed by gp60). C. muris was found in one child. In birds, we found C. meleagridis and, significantly, C. parvum, whereas we detected C. parvum and C. muris in one goat each. The only dog sampled was positive for Cryptosporidium canis. We conclude that, in the environment we surveyed, humans and animals are potential part of the same transmission cycle. Measures to prevent zoonotic transmission should therefore be considered to reduce the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis.

Genetic Diversity of Cryptosporidium Spp. in Njoro Sub County, Nakuru, Kenya

“…In this study, chicken were the sources of C. meleagridis and because this species has been identi ed as a zoonotic Cryptosporidium sp, (Zahedi et al 2016), chickens may be a potential reservoir. This observation is similar with ndings from Côte d'Ivoire (Berrilli et al 2012) and Nigeria (Ayinmode et al 2018) which suggested that there existed an association with chicken but in contrast with numerous other studies from Africa which did not indicate any association with infected animals or birds (Mbae et al 2015) and instead emphasized human to human transmission.…”

Cryptosporidium Infections in Africa—How Important Is Zoonotic Transmission? A Review of the Evidence

“…A relatively high frequency of C. meleagridis infections has been reported in African studies, as mentioned by Aldeyarbi et al (51) (of the studies considered, the authors report C. meleagridis among 21% of the immunocompromised and 10% of non-immunocompromised people, compared with below 1% in the developed world). Although C. meleagridis is also a zoonotic Cryptosporidium species, many of the papers from Africa do not indicate an association with infected animals or birds [although an association with chicken C. meleagridis infections has been suggested in Côte d'Ivoire (57) and Nigeria (58)] and some actually indicate a lack of association with chicken infections [e.g., (59)], perhaps suggesting transmission from a human source.…”

Cryptosporidium infection: epidemiology, pathogenesis, and differential diagnosis

“…have been isolated worldwide, and outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis associated with swimming pool or contaminated drinking water have been reported in several countries [24,25]. Although there are more than 30 species of Cryptosporidium, only few species like C. hominis, C. parvum, C. meleagridis, C. felis, and C. canis are commonly found in people [10,26,27]. Among these species, C. hominis and C. parvum are most frequently found in intestinal infections in humans, although they differ in host range, with the former that infects exclusively humans, while the latter has an infectious cycle involving humans and ruminants, and thereby, usually C. parvum infects people who have close contact with large numbers of animals [28][29][30].…”