Cryptosporidium

Test codes:

P0008 - Cryptosporidium screen by real time PCR. Screen detects but does not differentiate Cryptosporidium species.

Test P0008 is included in P0041 - waterborne pathogens screening panel

P0009 - Cryptosporidium detection and species identification by real time PCR and sequence analysis of the PCR product.

Several of the 13+ species in the Cryptosporidium genus have been confirmed as causative agents of human disease. Cryptosporidium is a parasitic protozoan that is transmitted by multiple routes; the animal host range is diverse. The following Cryptosporidium species are currently accepted, on the basis of host specificity, pathogenesis, morphology and genotyping:

Infecting mammals: Cryptosporidium hominis, C. parvum, C. wrairi, C. felis, C. canis, C. andersoni, C. muris and C. ubiquitum

Infecting birds: C. baileyi, C. meleagridis and C. galli

Infecting reptiles: C. serpentis and C. saurophilum

Infecting fish: C. molnari

Phylogenetic analyses have been largely based on sequencing of the small subunit rRNA gene (18S rRNA), the hsp 70 gene, or other housekeeping or structural genes. These analyses reveal that the various Cryptosporidium species interact in complex ways with hosts. For example, the specific host of C. felis is cats, but this species has also been isolated from a cow, while C. andersoni is morphologically close to C. muris but infects cattle rather than mice. And C. parvum includes a complex of subspecies that specifically infect cattle, pigs, kangaroos, ferrets or monkeys.

With the advance of molecular techniques, knowledge of the epidemiology of human cryptosporidiosis has significantly increased. It has been shown that the vast majority of human cases are caused by C. hominis (synonymous with C. parvum genotype 1) and C. parvum (synonymous with C. parvum genotype 2). Other species, including C. meleagridis, C. felis, C. canis and C. muris can also infect humans and are linked to clinical disease, not only in immunocompromised patients but also in immunocompetent people.

PCR is a rapid and extremely sensitive technique for detection of Cryptosporidium.

Utilities:

• Help confirm the disease causing agent
• Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical diagnosis of Cryptosporidium infection.
• Help ensure that bird flocks are free of Cryptosporidium
• Early prevention of spread of this protozoan
• Minimize human exposure to this protozoan

References:
Thomas, A.L. and Chalmers, R.M. (2003) Investigation of the range of Cryptosporidium species detected by commercially available antibody-based tests. Proceedings of the Health Protection Agency Inaugural Conference, Warwick, September.

Specimen requirements: Rectal swab, or cloacal swab, or 0.2 ml feces.

Contact Zoologix if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen types not listed here, please contact Zoologix to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.

For all specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen in transit. See shipping instructions for more information.

Turnaround time: 2 business days

Methodology: Qualitative real time PCR

Normal range: Nondetected