The identification and characterisation of an unusual genotype of Cryptosporidium from human faeces as Cryptosporidium meleagridis

An unusual genotype of Cryptosporidium was identified in the faeces of six human patients by PCR/RFLP analysis of the Cryptosporidium oocyst wall prot ein (COWP) gene. Conventional microscopy showed oocysts indistinguishable i n size from those of Cryptosporidium parvum, which reacted with two differe nt commercially available anti-oocyst monoclonal antibodies. The isolates w ere further characterised by PCR/RFLP analysis of the thrombospondin-relate d adhesive protein of Cryptosporidium-1 (TRAP-C1) genes as well as by DNA s equencing of the COWP and the TRAP-C1 gene fragments and of two regions of the 18S rRNA gene. Sequence analysis of the COWP, TRAP-C1, and 18S rRNA gen e fragments confirmed that this genotype is genetically distinct from C. pa rvum. 18S rRNA gene sequences were found to be identical to those published for Cryptosporidium meleagridis. (C) 2000 Federation of European Microbiol ogical Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.