Identification of Cryptosporidium bat genotypes XVI-XVIII in bats from Brazil

Abstract

Cryptosporidiosis is an emergent zoonotic disease caused by the globally distributed protozoa Cryptosporidium spp. Although several Cryptosporidium studies related to humans and many animal species have been published, there are still limited studies on the epidemiology of Cryptosporidium infection in bats. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. and to perform the molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium species and genotypes in fecal samples from bats in an urban area of the municipality of Araçatuba, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Nested PCR targeting the 18S rRNA, actin, and HSP-70 genes was performed to screen 141 fecal samples from bats and detected Cryptosporidium spp. in 16.3% (23/141) of the samples. Bidirectional sequencing identified three novel Cryptosporidium bat genotypes (XVI, XVII, and XVIII) and a new genotype (18SH) genetically similar to Cryptosporidium avium in six species of bats. This is the first report on the occurrence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. in Brazilian bats. Zoonotic Cryptosporidium species were not found in fecal samples from bats living in an urban area in the municipality of Araçatuba, state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Keywords: Brazil; Chiropteran; Cryptosporidial infection; Molecular characterization.