Molecular subtype analysis of Cryptosporidium spp. in sheep of Babylon province, middle Iraq

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the zoonotic potential and genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium species and subtype of C. parvum & C. hominis in sheep. A total of 180 fecal samples were collected from four sites in Babylon province, tested by modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain and 50 positive samples were exposed to the Nested PCR reaction. Four species (C. parvum, C. hominis, C. ubiquitum and C. andersoni) were identified based on sequence analysis of the heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70). Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the gp60 genetic sequence of 10 C. parvum, and 10 C. hominis isolates revealed diagnosis of four subtype included IIdA17G1a, IIdA17G1, IIdA18G1, IIdA21G1 and two subtypes of C. hominis, (IbA21G2 and IbA13G3). The result suggest that the sheep may be considered as reservoir host of IId (C. parvum) and Ib (C. hominis) subtypes to other animals and human.