Molecular characterization of cryptosporidium in children aged 0- 5 years with diarrhea in Jos, Nigeria

Abstract

IntroductionCryptosporidium is 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 characterize Cryptosporidium spp among children with diarrhea in Jos, Nigeria.MethodsStool 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.ResultsFrom the 165 children studied, 8 (4.8%) were infected with Cryptosporidium. PCR-RFLP assay and genotype characterization found the following Cryptosporidium species: C. hominis 6 (75%) and C. parvum 2 (25.0%), with family subtypes Id-5, Ie-1 and IIa-1, IId-1 respectively.The most common species was C. hominis and the frequent subtype was C. hominis-Id 5 (62.5%).ConclusionCryptosporidium is not an uncommon cause of diarrhea in children, with C. hominis being the dominant species. Also C. hominis Id 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.

Apparent absence ofGiardiainfections among children under 5-years of age with acute watery diarrhoea in Abakaliki, Nigeria

“…The 6.5% prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in our study was within the range reported by other studies from Nigeria in children aged below 5 years. For example, a 4.8% prevalence among 165 children below 5-years of age with diarrhoea was found in Jos, with C. hominis the predominant species, as we found, and subtype Id [21]; a 5.6% prevalence of Cryptosporidium was reported in children with diarrhoea below 6-years of age from Ebonyi state, with both C. hominis and C. parvum identified and, among the C. hominis isolates, four different GP60 subtypes, including two in the Ia family [22]; a prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection was found in 11.1% of 21 diarrhoeic children less than 12 months of age from Oyo state; two of the isolates were C. hominis , both subtype IaA24R3 [23].…”

Intestinal Parasitic Infections among the Pediatric Patients in a Metropolitan City of Bangladesh with Emphasis on Cryptosporidiosis

“…was found positive in 4.1% samples. A study was shown, where the prevalence of Cryptosporidium was 4.8% among children below five years of age with diarrhea [107]. A longitudinal cohort study was done on Bangladeshi slum children where the same procedure found Cryptosporidium positive cases in 6.3% cases [40].…”

Traditional practices and childhood cryptosporidiosis in Nigeria: A review

“…There are few available studies on the prevalence of childhood (aged 0-5 years) Cryptosporidium infection in children. Three of these studies investigated the infection in both diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic children [33][34][35] , while the others studied the infection in only diarrhoeic children 36,19,37 and in malnourished children. 38 Methods employed by these studies include Modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining method; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique (ELISA) and molecular methods (Table 2).…”

“…38 Methods employed by these studies include Modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining method; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique (ELISA) and molecular methods (Table 2). Few available information on childhood cryptosporidiosis were reported for two states (Oyo and Osun) in south-western Nigeria, 33,35 two state (Jos and Zaria) in Northern Nigeria 19,34,37 and only one state in South Eastern Nigeria. 36 The overview of these reports according to tribes is represented in Fig.…”