Subtypes of Cryptosporidium parvum in humans and disease risk

Abstract

The 2 main species of Cryptosporidium that infect humans are Cryptosporidium hominis and C. parvum. Here, multilocus fragment analysis of 3 microsatellite loci (ML1, ML2, and gp60) was used to subtype strains from sporadic cases of cryptosporidiosis in Wales and northwest England. Of 72 strains of C. parvum, 63 were typeable at all 3 loci, forming 31 subtypes. These strains formed 3 broad clusters, representing 74.6%, 20.6%, and 4.8% of typeable strains. Of 118 C. hominis strains, 106 were typeable at all 3 loci, forming 9 subtypes; however, 90% belonged to the same subtype. Analysis with epidemiologic data found an association between strains from case-patients who reported contact with farm animals and individual C. parvum microsatellite alleles. The strongest association was with ML1; all strains from case-patients that reported farm animal contact had the same allele (ML1-242). Microsatellite typing of C. parvum provides valuable additional information on the epidemiology of this pathogen.

Figure 1

Product size at microsatellite locus ML1 with number of Cryptosporidium parvum case-patients who touched or handled farm animals before onset of illness.

Figure 2

Product size at microsatellite locus ML2 with number of Cryptosporidium parvum case-patients who touched or handled farm animals before onset of illness.

Figure 3

Product size at microsatellite locus gp60 with number of Cryptosporidium parvum case-patients who touched or handled farm animals before onset of illness.