Molecular characterization of the Cryptosporidium cervine genotype

In this study, the 27 kDa immunodominant antigen (CP23), 70 kDa heat shock protein (HSP70), actin and beta-tubulin genes were amplified and sequenced for the first time from human isolates of Cryptosporidium cervine genotype. New primers were designed from reported sequences of other Cryptosporidium species and genotypes as well as the whole genome sequences of C. parvum and C. hominis, which enabled novel gene sequences and regions extending beyond those deposited in GenBank to be determined. In comparison with other species in the Cryptosporidium genus, multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Cryptosporidium cervine genotype isolates from humans clustered most closely with Cryptosporidium deer mouse genotype and C. suis (n. sp. formerly pig genotype I). The complete coding sequence of CP23 was determined to reveal low (72.4% and 68.0-69.8% respectively) identity to C. parvum and C. hominis sequences and the presence of a unique multiple proline-alanine-proline-valine (PAPV) repeat region.