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. 2014 Oct 30:7:492.
doi: 10.1186/s13071-014-0492-8.

Cryptosporidium cuniculus--new records in human and kangaroo in Australia

Anson V Koehler  1 , Margaret J Whipp  2 , Shane R Haydon  3 , Robin B Gasser  4
Affiliations

Cryptosporidium cuniculus--new records in human and kangaroo in Australia

Anson V Koehler et al. Parasit Vectors. .

Abstract

Background: To date, Cryptosporidium cuniculus has been found exclusively in rabbits and humans. The present study provides the first published molecular evidence for C. cuniculus in an Australian human patient as well as a kangaroo.

Findings: Using PCR-based sequencing of regions in the actin, 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) and small subunit of ribosomal RNA (SSU) genes, we identified a new and unique C. cuniculus genotype (akin to VbA25) from a human, and C. cuniculus genotype VbA26 from an Eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) in Australia.

Conclusions: The characterisation of these genotypes raises questions as to their potential to infect humans and/or other animals in Australia, given that C. cuniculus has been reported to cause cryptosporidiosis outbreaks in Europe.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sequence alignment. An alignment of the sequence of part of the gp60 gene (derived from a Cryptosporidium cuniculus genotypes from a human) [GenBank: KM366139] with its closest sequence match in the GenBank database [GenBank: GU971647] (C. cuniculus from human). Bold-type indicates a variable region of two bases. The deletion is indicated in grey (36 positions). The repeat regions before and after the deletion are underlined. Identical nucleotides are indicated with an asterisk.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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