Abstract
Cryptosporidiosis is a leading cause of childhood diarrhoea. Two species, Cryptosporidium hominis and Cryptosporidium parvum, are responsible for most confirmed cases globally. Close contact with pet animals can be an unnoticed source of children infections. We describe a case of infection by rodent-adapted Cryptosporidium wrairi in a 22-month-old immunocompetent toddler with no clinical manifestations in close contact with a pet guinea pig and poor personal hygiene practices in Majadahonda (Madrid, Spain). Attempts to determine the C. wrairi genotype family at the 60-kDa glycoprotein marker failed repeatedly. This is the first description of C. wrairi in a human host. Although a spurious infection cannot be completely ruled out, data presented here suggest that C. wrairi can be transmitted zoonotically.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available within the main body of the manuscript.
References
Alves M, Xiao L, Sulaiman I et al (2003) Subgenotype analysis of Cryptosporidium isolates from humans, cattle, and zoo ruminants in Portugal. J Clin Microbiol 41:2744–2747. https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.41.6.2744-2747.2003
Cacciò SM, Chalmers RM (2016) Human cryptosporidiosis in Europe. Clin Microbiol Infect 22:471–480. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2016.04.021
Chai Y, Deng L, Liu H et al (2019) First detection of Cryptosporidium spp. in red-bellied tree squirrels (Callosciurus erythraeus) in China. Parasite 26:28. https://doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2019029
Chen S, Chai Y, Deng L et al (2021) Cryptosporidium spp. in pet dwarf winter white Russian hamsters (Phodopussungorissungoris) in China. J Parasitol 107:770–777. https://doi.org/10.1645/20-102
Chrisp CE, Suckow MA, Fayer R et al (1992) Comparison of the host ranges and antigenicity of Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium wrairi from guinea pigs. J Protozool 39:406–409. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1550-7408.1992.tb01471.x
de Lucio A, Bailo B, Aguilera M et al (2017) No molecular epidemiological evidence supporting household transmission of zoonotic Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. from pet dogs and cats in the province of Álava. Northern Spain Acta Trop 170:48–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.02.024
Fletcher SM, Stark D, Harkness J, Ellis J (2012) Enteric protozoa in the developed world: a public health perspective. Clin Microbiol Rev 25:420–449. https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.05038-11
Johnson DW, Pieniazek NJ, Griffin DW et al (1995) Development of a PCR protocol for sensitive detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in water samples. Appl Environ Microbiol 61:3849–3855. https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.61.11.3849-3855.1995
Kato S, Lindergard G, Mohammed HO (2003) Utility of the Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein (COWP) gene in a nested PCR approach for detection infection in cattle. Vet Parasitol 111:153–159. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0304-4017(02)00353-9
Koehler AV, Whipp M, Hogg G et al (2014) First genetic analysis of Cryptosporidium from humans from Tasmania, and identification of a new genotype from a traveller to Bali. Electrophoresis 35:2600–2607. https://doi.org/10.1002/elps.201400225
Kotloff KL, Nataro JP, Blackwelder WC et al (2013) Burden and aetiology of diarrhoeal disease in infants and young children in developing countries (the Global Enteric Multicenter Study, GEMS): a prospective, case-control study. Lancet 382:209–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60844-2
Li J, Ryan U, Guo Y et al (2021) Advances in molecular epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis in dogs and cats. Int J Parasitol 51:787–795. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.03.002
Lucio-Forster A, Griffiths JK, Cama VA et al (2010) Minimal zoonotic risk of cryptosporidiosis from pet dogs and cats. Trends Parasitol 26:174–179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2010.01.004
Lv C, Zhang L, Wang R et al (2009) Cryptosporidium spp. in wild, laboratory, and pet rodents in China: prevalence and molecular characterization. Appl Environ Microbiol 75:7692–7699. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.01386-09
Morgan UM, Monis PT, Xiao L et al (2001) Molecular and phylogenetic characterisation of Cryptosporidium from birds. Int J Parasitol 31:289–296. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0020-7519(00)00164-8
Mphephu MG, Ekwanzala MD, Momba MNB (2021) Cryptosporidium species and subtypes in river water and riverbed sediment using next-generation sequencing. Int J Parasitol 51:339–351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.10.005
Robertson ID, Irwin PJ, Lymbery AJ, Thompson RC (2000) The role of companion animals in the emergence of parasitic zoonoses. Int J Parasitol 30:369–1377. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0020-7519(00)00134-x
Ryan UM, Feng Y, Fayer R, Xiao L (2021) Taxonomy and molecular epidemiology of Cryptosporidium and Giardia - a 50 year perspective (1971–2021). Int J Parasitol in Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.08.007
Šlapeta J (2013) Cryptosporidiosis and Cryptosporidium species in animals and humans: a thirty colour rainbow? Int J Parasitol 43:957–970. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2013.07.005
Tiangtip R, Jongwutiwes S (2002) Molecular analysis of Cryptosporidium species isolated from HIV-infected patients in Thailand. Trop Med Int Health 7:357–364. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3156.2002.00855.x
Vetterling JM, Jervis HR, Merrill TG, Sprinz H (1971a) Cryptosporidium wrairi sp. n. from the guinea pig Caviaporcellus, with an emendation of the genus. J Protozool 18:243–247. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1550-7408.1971.tb03315.x
Vetterling JM, Takeuchi A, Madden PA (1971b) Ultrastructure of Cryptosporidium wrairi from the guinea pig. J Protozool 18:248–260. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1550-7408.1971.tb03316.x
Xiao L, Bern C, Limor J, Sulaiman I, Roberts J, Checkley W, Cabrera L, Gilman RH, Lal AA (2001) Identification of 5 types of Cryptosporidium parasites in children in Lima, Peru. J Infect Dis 183:492–497. https://doi.org/10.1086/318090
Xiao L, Morgan UM, Limor J, Escalante A, Arrowood M, Shulaw W, Thompson RC, Fayer R, Lal AA (1999) Genetic diversity within Cryptosporidium parvum and related Cryptosporidium species. Appl Environ Microbiol 65:3386–3391. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.65.8.3386-3391.1999
Funding
This research was funded by the Health Institute Carlos III (ISCIII), Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Spain), under projects PI16CIII/00024 and PI18CIII/00043. C.H.C. was recipient of a pre-doctoral fellowship (call 2020–2021) funded by the Carolina Foundation (Spain). S.S. is the recipient of a Miguel Servet research contract funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (CPII18CIII/00005). D.G.B. is the recipient of a Sara Borrell research contract funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (CD19CIII/00011). A.D. is the recipient of a pre-doctoral fellowship funded by the ISCIII (FI20CIII/00002).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Ethics approval
This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Health Institute Carlos III (CEI PI 11_2019-v2).
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Section Editor: Lihua Xiao
Publisher's note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hernández-Castro, C., Dashti, A., Köster, P.C. et al. First report of rodent-adapted Cryptosporidium wrairi in an immunocompetent child, Spain. Parasitol Res 121, 3007–3011 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-022-07607-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-022-07607-3