Abstract
BackgroundCryptosporidium is an important zoonotic parasite that is commonly found in non-human primates (NHPs). Consequently, there is the potential for transmission of this pathogen from NHPs to humans. However, molecular characterization of the isolates of Cryptosporidium from NHPs remains relatively poor. The aim of the present work was to (i) determine the prevalence; and (ii) perform a genetic characterization of the Cryptosporidium isolated from captive Macaca fascicularis and M. mulatta on Hainan Island in southern China.MethodsA total of 223 fresh fecal samples were collected from captive M. fascicularis (n = 193) and M. mulatta (n = 30). The fecal specimens were examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing of the partial small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene. The Cryptosporidium-positive specimens were subtyped by analyzing the 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene sequence.ResultsCryptosporidium spp. were detected in 5.7% (11/193) of M. fascicularis. All of the 11 Cryptosporidium isolates were identified as C. hominis. Subtyping of nine of these isolates identified four unique gp60 subtypes of C. hominis. These included IaA20R3a (n = 1), IoA17a (n = 1), IoA17b (n = 1), and IiA17 (n = 6). Notably, subtypes IaA20R3a, IoA17a, and IoA17b were novel subtypes which have not been reported previously.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first reported detection of Cryptosporidium in captive M. fascicularis from Hainan Island. The molecular characteristics and subtypes of the isolates here provide novel insights into the genotypic variation in C. hominis.
Highlights
Cryptosporidium is an important zoonotic parasite that is commonly found in non-human primates (NHPs)
All 11 Cryptosporidium-positive samples were from M. fascicularis (11/193, 5.7%) and none was found in M. mulatta (0/30, 0%), this did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.37)
It was observed that only young M. fascicularis were infected with Cryptosporidium
Summary
Cryptosporidium is an important zoonotic parasite that is commonly found in non-human primates (NHPs). Molec‐ ular characterization of the isolates of Cryptosporidium from NHPs remains relatively poor. The parasite is the causative agent of cryptosporidiosis, the clinical signs of which include diarrhea, malabsorption and wasting in humans [1]. Cryptosporidiosis in children is associated with malnutrition and poor growth and is one of the most important causes of diarrhea-associated death among young children in developing countries [3]. Because of the clinical and public health importance of Cryptosporidium, this protozoan is considered as a category B list priority pathogen by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the USA and the fifth most important food-borne parasite by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee [8, 9]
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