Cryptosporidium species and genotypes in HIV-positive patients in Lima, Peru

J Eukaryot Microbiol. 2003:50 Suppl:531-3. doi: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2003.tb00620.x.

Abstract

Cryptosporidium parasites from a cross-sectional study conducted in two national hospitals in Lima, Peru were genetically characterized to determine the diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. in HIV-positive people. A total of 2,672 patients participated in this study and provided 13,937 specimens. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected by microscopy in 354 (13.3%) of the patients. Analysis of 951 Cryptosporidium-positive specimens from 300 patients using a small subunit rRNA-based PCR-RFLP tool identified 6 genotypes; Cryptosporidium hominis was the species most frequently detected (67.5%), followed by C. meleagridis (12.6%) and C. parvum (11.3%). Cryptosporidium canis (4.0%), C. felis (3.3%), and Cryptosporidium pig genotype (0.5%) were also found. These findings indicate that C. hominis is the predominant species in Peruvian HIV-positive persons, and that zoonotic Cryptosporidium spp. account for about 30% of cryptosporidiosis in these patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / epidemiology
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / parasitology*
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / parasitology
  • Animals
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Cryptosporidiosis / epidemiology*
  • Cryptosporidium / classification
  • Cryptosporidium / genetics
  • Cryptosporidium / isolation & purification*
  • Genotype
  • HIV Seropositivity / parasitology*
  • Humans
  • Peru / epidemiology