First molecular characterization ofCryptosporidiumin Yemen

Abstract

SUMMARYCryptosporidiumis a protozoan parasite of humans and animals and has a worldwide distribution. The parasite has a unique epidemiology in Middle Eastern countries where the IId subtype family ofCryptosporidium parvumdominates. However, there has been no information onCryptosporidiumspecies in Yemen. Thus, this study was conducted in Yemen to examine the distribution ofCryptosporidiumspecies and subtype families. Fecal samples were collected from 335 patients who attended hospitals in Sana'a city.Cryptosporidiumspecies were determined by PCR and sequence analysis of the 18 s rRNA gene.Cryptosporidium parvumandC. hominissubtypes were identified based on sequence analysis of the 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene. Out of 335 samples, 33 (9·9%) were positive forCryptosporidium. Of them, 97% were identified asC. parvumwhilst 1 case (3%) was caused byC. hominis. All 7C. parvumisolates subtyped belonged to the IIaA15G2R1 subtype. The common occurrence of the zoonotic IIa subtype family ofC. parvumhighlights the potential occurrence of zoonotic transmission of cryptosporidiosis in Yemen. However, this postulation needs confirmation with future molecular epidemiological studies of cryptosporidiosis in both humans and animals in Yemen.