Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium isolates obtained from human and bovine infections in Japan

Cryptosporidium oocysts, morphologically identified as Cryptosporidium parvum, were isolated from 22 human and 14 bovine cases in Japan, and were genotyped by means of a PCR/RFLP analysis of the polythreonine gene. DNA profiles of human isolates gave three distinct genotypes, namely an anthroponotic genotype 1, zoonotic genotype 2 and a new genotype. Isolates from bovine samples gave zoonotic genotype 2. The unusual genotype of Cryptosporidium was isolated from the feces of three immunologically healthy adults, and was further characterized by the sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA gene. The third genotype was identified as Crypto sporidium meleagridis, demonstrating that C. meleagridis, which occurs worldwide, has the potential to infect humans regardless of their immunological condition.