Molecular epidemiological analysis of Cryptosporidium spp. in the United Kingdom: Results of genotyping Cryptosporidium spp. in 1,705 fecal samples from humans and 105 fecal samples from livestock animals

Cryptosporidium present in 1,705 fecal samples from humans and 105 from liv estock animals were analyzed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphis m of the Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein. Overall, genotype 1 (human ex clusive type) was detected in 37.8% of the samples from humans, genotype 2 (broad host range) was detected in 61.5%, a third genotype designated genot ype 3 (Cryptosporidium meleagridis) was detected in 0.3%, and both genotype s I and 2 were recovered from 0.4%. All samples from livestock yielded geno type 2, Among 469 patients infected during eight drinking water-related out breaks, five outbreaks were predominantly due to genotype I, and three were due to genotype 2, Fifty-four samples were collected from patients involve d with five swimming pool-associated outbreaks: two outbreaks were due to g enotype I, one was due to genotype 2, and the remaining two involved both g enotypes 1 and 2, Among 26 family outbreaks and 1 children's nursery outbre ak (2 to 3 members per group), the same genotype was recovered from the dif ferent members of each outbreak: 13 were due to genotype 1, and 14 were due to genotype 2, In eighteen patients reporting contact with animals and/or farms, genotype 1 was recovered from one patient and genotype 2 was recover ed from the remaining 17, Among the sporadic cases, there were distinct geo graphical and temporal variations in the distribution of the genotypes, The spring peak in cases was due to genotype 2, Genotype I was significantly m ore common in patients infected during the late-summer-autumn peak and in t hose with a history of foreign travel.