Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. isolated in humans in two different locations in Spain

Molecular PCR based diagnostic techniques have enabled us to distinguish between the different, morphologically identical, Cryptosporidium species that can infect humans. Of the 23 recognized species in the genus, at least 9 are able to infect humans. As the intensity of the clinical manifestations, pathogenicity, excretion of oocysts, and incidence, are different between this species, molecular studies are crucial for a better understanding of the epidemiology of human cryptosporidiosis. Samples form two independent studies are analyzed in this publication. One included 23 samples from Madrid, and the other, 72 samples from La Coruna. All of them positive for Cryptosporidium spp. by microscopic methods and belonging to isolated cases of human cryptosporidiosis. For the identification of the species responsible for the infection, the 18S rDNA diagnostic region and the COWP gene diagnostic regions were used. Out of the 95 samples tested, in 77 cases we were able to extract and amplify DNA. In those cases the species responsible for the infection were: C parvum (40 cases, 2 Madrid and 38 La Coruna), C hominis (30 cases, 10 Madrid and 20 La Coruna) and C. meleagridis (2 cases, 1 Madrid and 1 La Coruna). In 5 samples it was impossible to detect the species responsible for the infection, but their positivity was confirmed by PCR (4 Madrid and 1 La Coruna). The genotypes of the isolates from patients correlated well with animals from the same regions. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.