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Intra-isolate variation of Cryptosporidium parvum small subunit ribosomal RNA genes from human hosts in England

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Abstract

Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite responsible for a number of water-borne outbreaks of human gastrointestinal infection. The importance of this parasite for human health has led to several investigations into its epidemiology. In the present study, sequence and PCR-RFLP analyses were performed on cloned SSU rRNA genes from human and bovine C. parvum isolates. Each cloned gene was assigned a genotype using AseI restriction digestion profiles. Although sequence heterogeneity was observed, six of seven human isolates contained human genotype SSU rRNA genes and one human isolate contained bovine genotype genes. No intra-isolate variation was observed between the SSU rRNA genes analysed from a single bovine (Iowa) isolate. Intra-isolate variation did not occur at the Ase I restriction sites and therefore did not interfere with the assignment of C. parvum genotypes by RFLP. Mixed RFLP genotypes (human and bovine) were not observed in any of the C. parvum isolates analysed.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Horton General, John Radcliffe and Royal Berkshire hospitals for provision of the Cryptosporidium isolates analysed in this study. The experiments reported here comply with current UK laws.

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  1. Environment and Technology, Thames Water Utilities, Spencer House, Manor Farm Road, Reading, RG2 OJN, UK

    Cindy Gibbons-Matthews & Annette M. Prescott

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  1. Cindy Gibbons-Matthews
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  2. Annette M. Prescott
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Thames Water Utilities Limited is not responsible for the opinions expressed in "Intra-isolate variation of Cryptosporidium parvum small subunit ribosomal RNA genes from human hosts in England" and also accepts no responsibility for either the accuracy of or use of any data or information contained therein.

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Gibbons-Matthews, C., Prescott, A.M. Intra-isolate variation of Cryptosporidium parvum small subunit ribosomal RNA genes from human hosts in England. Parasitol Res 90, 439–444 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-003-0876-8

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