Differences in clinical manifestations among Cryptosporidium species and subtypes in HIV-infected persons

J Infect Dis. 2007 Sep 1;196(5):684-91. doi: 10.1086/519842. Epub 2007 Jul 13.

Abstract

We performed a cross-sectional study to determine the epidemiology of Cryptosporidium in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons at 3 diagnostic levels: microscopy, genotypes of Cryptosporidium, and subtype families of C. hominis and C. parvum. The study enrolled 2,490 HIV-infected persons in Lima, Peru, and 230 were microscopy positive for Cryptosporidium infection. Specimens from 193 participants were available for genotyping. They had C. hominis (141 persons), C. parvum (22 persons), C. meleagridis (17 persons), C. canis (6 persons), C. felis (6 persons), and C. suis (1 person) infection. Although microscopy results showed that Cryptosporidium infections were associated with diarrhea, only infections with C. canis, C. felis, and subtype family Id of C. hominis were associated with diarrhea, and infection with C. parvum was associated with chronic diarrhea and vomiting. These results demonstrate that different Cryptosporidium genotypes and subtype families are linked to different clinical manifestations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Cryptosporidiosis / complications*
  • Cryptosporidiosis / diagnosis*
  • Cryptosporidiosis / epidemiology
  • Cryptosporidiosis / pathology
  • Cryptosporidium / classification*
  • Cryptosporidium / genetics
  • Cryptosporidium / pathogenicity*
  • Female
  • Genetic Variation
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • HIV Infections / parasitology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Species Specificity