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Genotyping of Cryptosporidium isolates from human clinical cases in Poland
Anna Bajer1, Małgorzata Bednarska, Simone M Cacciò
1Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. anabena@biol.uw.edu.pl
Abstract:
Cryptosporidium spp. infection is usually self-limited in immunocompetent hosts but can be severe and life threatening in children and in immunocompromised individuals including those with primary or acquired immunodeficiencies. One hundred and three faecal samples were collected from 35 hospitalised patients with different symptoms and tested for the presence of the parasite. Cryptosporidium oocysts were found in four of 35 patients (11.4%) using Ziehl-Neelsen staining of faecal smears and immunofluorescence assay, whereas 12 (34.3%) samples tested positive by nested polymerase chain reaction assay. Cryptosporidium DNA was detected in one bile sample but not in a liver tissue biopsy sample collected from a patient who suffered from sclerosing cholangitis. Sequence analysis of oocyst wall protein and beta-tubulin gene fragments revealed three different parasite species (Cryptosporidium hominis, Cryptosporidium meleagridis and Cryptosporidium parvum) in children with primary immunodeficiencies, whereas only C. parvum was found in immunocompetent individuals and in those with secondary immunodeficiencies. This study has revealed a high prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in hospitalised patients in Poland and confirmed that molecular techniques enable a more sensitive detection of the parasite.
Insights
Cryptosporidium infection is common in hospitalized patients in Poland, especially in children and immunocompromised individuals. Molecular methods like PCR are more effective than traditional staining for detecting this parasite.
Area of Science:
- Medical Parasitology
- Infectious Diseases
- Molecular Diagnostics
Background:
- Cryptosporidium spp. infection poses a significant health risk, particularly to pediatric and immunocompromised populations.
- Severity ranges from self-limiting in healthy individuals to life-threatening in vulnerable groups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in hospitalized patients in Poland.
- To compare the diagnostic sensitivity of molecular techniques versus traditional methods.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 103 fecal samples from 35 hospitalized patients.
- Detection using Ziehl-Neelsen staining, immunofluorescence assay, and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
- Sequence analysis of oocyst wall protein and beta-tubulin genes for species identification.
Main Results:
- Nested PCR identified Cryptosporidium in 34.3% of samples, significantly higher than Ziehl-Neelsen staining (11.4%).
- Three species—C. hominis, C. meleagridis, and C. parvum—were identified in children with primary immunodeficiencies.
- C. parvum was the sole species detected in immunocompetent and secondary immunodeficiency groups.
Conclusions:
- Molecular techniques offer superior sensitivity for Cryptosporidium detection in clinical settings.
- The study highlights a notable prevalence of Cryptosporidium infections among hospitalized patients in Poland.
- Understanding species distribution is crucial for managing infections in different patient populations.
