Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium Species in Children with Diarrhea in North West of Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Behroz Mahdavi Poor 1 , 2
Jalil Rashedi 1
Mohammad Asgharzadeh 3
Esmaeel Fallah 4
Kareem Hatam- Nahavandi 5
Abdolhossein Dalimi 2
1 Department of Laboratory Science, Faculty of Paramedicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
2 Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
3 Biotechnology Research Center and Faculty of Paramedicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
4 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
5 Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Cryptosporidium is one of the most common causes of childhood diarrhea in developing countries. The aim of
this randomized pilot study was to detect and characterize infective species and determine the genotypes of
Cryptosporidium parasites in pediatric patients suffering from diarrhea in North West of Iran. A total of 113
fecal samples were collected from diarrheic children hospitalized in Tabriz Pediatric Hospital. The amplification
of small subunit ribosomal RNA gene was performed using a nested polymerase chain reaction protocol and its
products were digested using two restriction enzymes for Cryptosporidium species and genotype differentiation.
Cryptosporidium oocysts were found in 2 (1.76%) children with diarrhea and restriction pattern revealed the
presence of C.parvum bovine genotype in both positive fecal samples. The findings indicate that
Cryptosporidium parvum is responsible for cryptosporidiosis in children in the study region and probably
zoonotic transmission is the predominant route of parasite transmission.
Keywords
Child
Cryptosporidium
genotype
PCR
Iran