Background: Cryptosporidium is a worldwide protozoan parasite and one of the most common causes of infection and diarrhea in humans and cattle. The aim of the present study was determination of subtypes of Cryptosporidium among children with diarrhea in Tehran by sequence analysis of the highly polymorphic 60-kDa glycoprotein (GP60) gene.
Methods: Fecal samples were collected from 794 diarrheic children. Initial identification of Cryptosporidium was carried out on stool samples by Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast staining method. DNA was extracted from positive microscopically samples and Cryptosporidium genotypes and subtypes were determined, accordingly.
Results: Out of 794 collected samples, 19 (2.40%) were positive for Cryptosporidium oocysts. Sequences analysis of GP60 gene showed that 17 (89.47%) of the positive isolates were Cryptosporidium parvum and 2 (10.52%) were C. hominis. All subtypes of C. parvum isolates belonged to allele families IIa (6/17) and IId (11/17). The most common allele in all 17 isolates belonged to IId A20G1a (41.18%). A22G1 (IF) subtype was detected in two C. hominis isolates of the children.
Conclusion: The predominancy of C. parvum species (specially, IId A20G1a subtype) in current study underlines the importance of zoonotic Cryptosporidium transmission in Iran.
Keywords: Children; Cryptosporidium; GP60 gene; Genotypes; Iran; Subtypes.