Investigation of Cryptosporidium spp. in fecal samples collected from stray cats of İzmir and identification of species and genotype
Project no. 22513 · Status: Kapanmış · 2021
Summary
Cryptosporidium spp. are obligate intracellular apicomplexan parasites that are transmitted to humans and other animals by contaminated water, food, or direct contact and mainly cause gastrointestinal symptoms. Cats serve as reservoir for Cryptosporidium spp. and Cryptosporidium felis (C. felis) is the most common detected species while C. parvum and C. muris have also been detected. In the present study, the molecular prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. was investigated for the first time in Turkey by a comprehensive study screening 399 fecal samples collected from stray cats using nested PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene. In addition, Cryptosporidium spp. PCR positive samples were genotyped by nested PCR- restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), sequencing of the 18S SSU rRNA as well as subtyped by sequencing of the gp60 gene. Among fecal samples screened, 12 of them (3%) were found Cryptosporidium spp. positive, and according to RFLP and sequencing of 18S rRNA gene, all positive samples were detected to be C. felis. According to subtyping analyses of C. felis isolates using gp60 gene, all of them clustered within the XIXa subtype family which is in close relation with human subtypes. In conclusion, the results of this study are important in terms of indicating the potential role of stray cats for transmission of Cryptosporidium spp. to humans or other animals. Also, the presence of XIXa which is the dominant subtype family of C. felis in cats and humans was shown for the first time in stray cats of İzmir, Turkey.