Evidence for a new species of <it>Cryptosporidium </it>infecting tortoises: <it>Cryptosporidium ducismarci</it>
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Cryptosporidiosis affects the gastrointestinal and respiratory tract of humans as well as of a wide range of companion, farm, laboratory and wild animals. In the past few years, three independent studies have provided strong evidence for the existence of a distin...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2010-03-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Online Access: | http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/content/3/1/21 |
| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Cryptosporidiosis affects the gastrointestinal and respiratory tract of humans as well as of a wide range of companion, farm, laboratory and wild animals. In the past few years, three independent studies have provided strong evidence for the existence of a distinct <it>Cryptosporidium </it>species affecting tortoises and likely circulating in other reptile species as well. A new <it>Cryptosporidium </it>genotype was firstly detected and genetically characterized in a marginated tortoise in Italy in 2007 and named <it>Cryptosporidium </it>sp. ex <it>Testudo marginata </it>CrIT-20. The phylogenetic analysis of this isolate indicated that this <it>Cryptosporidium </it>was unique and belonged to the intestinal clade. These findings were later on confirmed by the detection of genetic homologies of isolates from a python and a chameleon from Spain and by recent research in the United States. The latter study presented both the occurrence of intestinal lesions in a pancake tortoise and a Russian tortoise and the genetic characterization of the isolates, together with the first pictures of the endogenous stages of <it>Cryptosporidium </it>CrIT-20. Phylogenetic inference based on the sequences representing small subunit of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (SSU) of these isolates confirmed the pathological findings because this <it>Cryptosporidium </it>was related to the intestinal group and supported previous results in <it>T. marginata </it>from Italy. The present scientific data on the <it>Cryptosporidium </it>CrIT-20 support its classification as a new species of <it>Cryptosporidium </it>causing intestinal diseases in tortoises. Although further morphological (i.e. exogenous stages) and biological aspects (i.e. complete host range) are yet to be elucidated, it is proposed that this <it>Cryptosporidium </it>is designated <it>Cryptosporidium ducismarci</it>.</p> |
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| ISSN: | 1756-3305 |