Cryptosporidium species in immunodeficient and immunocompetent patients of Valparaíso: a descriptive study

Genetical characterization of human Cryptosporidium isolates to determine species diversity. A cross-sectional study in Valparaiso, Chile, was performed. A total of 458 patients participated in the study: 259 immunodeficient (HIV, cancer, renal transplant hyper-IgM syndrome, HIV and unintended pregnancy) and 178 immunocompetent individuals provided stool samples and 21 patients bile samples. We obtained 29 (6.3%) positive samples. 25 (9.7%) derived from immunodeficient patients: 18 (7.3%) from HIV patients and 7 from patients with other immunodeficiencies. The remaining 4 (2.2%) samples originated from immunocompetent individuals. Cryptosporidium genotyping was performed by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragments length polymorphism and/or PCR followed by sequencing of the SSU rRNA from oocysts in stool samples. 4 species were identified: C. parvum, C. hominis, C. muris, and C. meleagridis. In immunodeficient patients, 16 C. parvum, 8 C. hominis, and 1 C. muris strain were identified. In immunocompetent participants, 3 C. hominis and 1 C. meleagridis isolate were found. The results indicate that zoonotic and anthroponotic transmission occurs and that C. parvum is the predominant species in our study population. Cryptosporidium species of zoonotic transmission accounted for 62% of the human infections detected in this study.