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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Environmental Microbial & Food Safety Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #279531

Title: Advances and outlook on the diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis

Author
item Santin-Duran, Monica

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/2/2012
Publication Date: 4/26/2012
Citation: Santin, M. 2012. Advances and outlook on the diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis. [abstract].

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Traditional microscopy techniques are insufficient for identifying species and/or genotypes of Cryptosporidium, and molecular tools such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gene sequencing are required. Currently, with the help of molecular tools a large number of species and genotypes have been described. In cattle, molecular epidemiology has shown that mainly 4 species of Cryptosporidium infect cattle, C. parvum, C. bovis, C. ryanae, and C. andersoni, each species presenting a different prevalence pattern relative to the age of the cattle. In sheep and pigs, molecular epidemiology has shown 2 species of Cryptosporidium are mainly responsible from most infections, C. xiaoi and C. ubiquitum in sheep, and C. suis and pig genotype II in pigs. The need to precisely identify Cryptosporidium species/genotypes as well as the risk of zoonotic transmission of Cryptosporidium will be discussed in greater detail.