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Cryptosporidium occultus sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporidiidae) in rats

Martin Kváč1, Gabriela Vlnatá2, Jana Ježková3

  • 1Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Parasitology, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic.

European Journal of Protistology
|March 6, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Cryptosporidium parvum VF383, found in wild rats, infects rodents but not piglets or calves. Genetic and morphological data support its classification as a new species, Cryptosporidium occultus.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Parasitology
  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Cryptosporidium parvum VF383 has a broad host range, including humans and ruminants, and is phylogenetically linked to Cryptosporidium suis.
  • Despite its name, C. parvum VF383 has not been identified in pigs, differentiating it from C. suis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the infectivity and biological characteristics of C. parvum VF383 in different animal models.
  • To genetically and morphologically characterize C. parvum VF383 to determine its taxonomic status.

Main Methods:

  • Infectivity studies were conducted in piglets, calves, laboratory rats, BALB/c mice, and Mongolian gerbils.
  • Histology and electron microscopy were used to examine life cycle stages in infected rodents.
  • Phylogenetic analysis was performed using 18S rRNA, actin, and HSP70 gene sequences.

Main Results:

  • C. parvum VF383 infected laboratory rats, mice, and gerbils, with prepatent periods of 4-5 days.
  • Rodents showed prolonged patent periods (rats >30 days, others <20 days) without clinical signs.
  • Oocysts measured 5.20 × 4.94 μm, similar to C. parvum but smaller than C. suis.
  • Phylogenetic analyses confirmed C. parvum VF383 is distinct from C. suis and other Cryptosporidium species.

Conclusions:

  • C. parvum VF383 is infectious to specific rodent species but not to common livestock.
  • Morphological, genetic, and biological data strongly support the designation of C. parvum VF383 as a new species.
  • The proposed name for this new species is Cryptosporidium occultus.
Keywords:
HistologyMolecular phylogenyMorphometryNew speciesTransmission studies

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