Molecular identification of Cryptosporidium spp. in animal and human hosts from the Czech Republic

To study the diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. in various hosts, we used the variability of the small-subunit rRNA gene and the Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein genes. Oocysts from humans, cattle, horses, dogs, field mice, chickens, reptiles, deer, goat, cat, antelope and from a sample of water reservoir were assayed. The zoonotic C parvum bovine genotype sequence was found to be present in the most of isolates. This study shows a complex epidemiology pattern for C parvum bovine genotype infections. The identification of cattle, horse, and deer isolates emphasizes a transmission route for C. parvum via these hosts, and identifies a potential source for human infection in the Czech Republic. Furthermore, C. andersoni from a cow, C. baileyi from a chicken, C. felis from a cat, C meleagridis from a dog, and C saurophilum and C serpentis from reptiles were also identified in the isolates from the Czech Republic. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.