Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Studying Cryptosporidium Infection in 3D Tissue-derived Human Organoid Culture Systems by Microinjection
05:31

Studying Cryptosporidium Infection in 3D Tissue-derived Human Organoid Culture Systems by Microinjection

Published on: September 14, 2019

Genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium isolates from patients in North India

Poonam Sharma1, Aman Sharma, Rakesh Sehgal

  • 1Department of Parasitology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

International Journal of Infectious Diseases : IJID : Official Publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases
|January 22, 2013
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Genetic diversity analysis of Cryptosporidium in North India reveals three species, eight subgenotypes, and 17 subtypes. This heterogeneity suggests stable cryptosporidiosis transmission and highlights the complexity of parasite spread.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Parasitology
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Cryptosporidiosis, a significant cause of diarrheal illness, affects diverse populations globally.
  • Morphological identification of Cryptosporidium species is challenging, necessitating molecular techniques for accurate detection and tracking.
  • Human Cryptosporidium infections are caused by various species, with differing impacts on immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the genetic diversity of human Cryptosporidium isolates in North India.
  • To identify different Cryptosporidium species, subgenotypes, and subtypes circulating in the region.
  • To understand the implications of genetic heterogeneity on cryptosporidiosis transmission dynamics.

Main Methods:

  • Detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in stool samples using special staining.
  • DNA extraction followed by genotyping via nested PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) targeting the SSU rRNA gene with SspI and VspI enzymes.
  • Subtyping of Cryptosporidium hominis and Cryptosporidium parvum isolates using gp60 gene sequence analysis.

Main Results:

  • Fifty-three positive Cryptosporidium stool samples were analyzed.
  • PCR-RFLP identified 39 isolates as C. hominis and 13 as C. parvum.
  • gp60 sequencing revealed eight subgenotype families and 17 subtypes, including mixed infections and Cryptosporidium meleagridis in HIV-positive patients.

Conclusions:

  • Cryptosporidium isolates from North India exhibit significant genetic diversity, encompassing three species, eight subgenotype families, and 17 subtypes.
  • The observed genetic heterogeneity and mixed infections indicate complex and stable transmission patterns of cryptosporidiosis in the region.
  • Understanding this molecular diversity is crucial for effective epidemiology and control strategies against Cryptosporidium infections.

More Related Videos

Isolation of Culturable Yeasts and Molds from Soils to Investigate Fungal Population Structure10:33

Isolation of Culturable Yeasts and Molds from Soils to Investigate Fungal Population Structure

Published on: May 27, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Diversity of Protists IV01:27

Diversity of Protists IV

Amoebozoa represent a diverse group of terrestrial and aquatic protists that utilize lobe-shaped pseudopodia for locomotion and feeding. This characteristic differentiates them from the Rhizaria, which possess threadlike pseudopodia. The primary classifications within Amoebozoa include gymnamoebas, entamoebas, and the plasmodial and cellular slime molds. Phylogenetic evidence indicates that Amoebozoa diverged from a lineage that ultimately gave rise to fungi and animals.Gymnamoebas and...
Diversity of Protists I01:15

Diversity of Protists I

Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...
Diversity of Protists II01:27

Diversity of Protists II

Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...
Diversity of Protists III01:27

Diversity of Protists III

Rhizaria are a diverse group of unicellular protists characterized by their threadlike cytoplasmic extensions known as pseudopodia. These structures aid in both locomotion and feeding, giving Rhizaria an amoeboid appearance. Their amoeboid morphology once led to taxonomic confusion, but molecular phylogenetics has clarified their evolutionary placement and emphasized their shared use of pseudopodia despite divergent lineages.This clade comprises diverse lineages such as Chlorarachniophyta,...
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
Diversity of Archaea IV01:29

Diversity of Archaea IV

Hyperthermophilic archaea are a group of extremophiles thriving at temperatures above 80°C, often in hydrothermal vents and volcanic soils where conditions surpass the boiling point of water. At such temperatures, proteins, membranes, and DNA in most organisms degrade, but hyperthermophiles have evolved remarkable adaptations to maintain stability and function.Unique Cellular FeaturesHyperthermophilic membranes are composed of a monolayer of biphytanyl tetraether lipids, which resist thermal...