Subtype analysis of zoonotic pathogen Cryptosporidium skunk genotype

Wenchao Yan; Kerri Alderisio; Dawn M Roellig; Kristin Elwin; Rachel M Chalmers; Fengkun Yang; Yuanfei Wang; Yaoyu Feng; Lihua Xiao

doi:10.1016/j.meegid.2017.08.023

Subtype analysis of zoonotic pathogen Cryptosporidium skunk genotype

Infect Genet Evol. 2017 Nov:55:20-25. doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2017.08.023. Epub 2017 Aug 31.

Authors

Wenchao Yan¹, Kerri Alderisio², Dawn M Roellig³, Kristin Elwin⁴, Rachel M Chalmers⁴, Fengkun Yang⁵, Yuanfei Wang⁶, Yaoyu Feng⁷, Lihua Xiao⁸

Affiliations

¹ Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan 471023, China.
² New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply, Division of Water Quality Science and Research, Valhalla, New York, USA.
³ Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
⁴ Cryptosporidium Reference Unit, Public Health Wales, Swansea SA2 8QA, UK.
⁵ Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; Department of Parasitology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China.
⁶ Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
⁷ College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China. Electronic address: yyfeng@scau.edu.cn.
⁸ Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA. Electronic address: lxiao@cdc.gov.

Abstract

Cryptosporidium skunk genotype is a zoonotic pathogen commonly identified in surface water. Thus far, no subtyping tool exists for characterizing its transmission in humans and animals and transport in environment. In this study, a subtyping tool based on the 60kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene previously developed for Cryptosporidium chipmunk genotype I was used in the characterization of Cryptosporidium skunk genotype in animal and storm runoff samples from a watershed in New York. Altogether, 17 positive samples from this watershed and 5 human and animal specimens from other areas were analyzed. We identified 14 subtypes of Cryptosporidium skunk genotype, 11 of which were seen in the watershed. In phylogenetic analysis, these subtypes belonged to 4 subtype families (XVIa, XVIb, XVIc, and XVId). No host-adapted subtypes were identified and the two subtypes in humans were genetically similar to some in raccoons, otters, and storm runoff samples from the watershed. The characteristics of gp60 protein sequences of the Cryptosporidium skunk genotype are similar to those of other Cryptosporidium species, but only its XVIb subtype family has a putative furin cleavage site. This subtyping tool might be useful in characterizing Cryptosporidium skunk genotype in clinical and environmental samples.

Keywords: Cryptosporidium; One health; Subtyping; Water; Zoonosis; gp60.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Cryptosporidiosis / parasitology*
Cryptosporidium / classification*
Cryptosporidium / genetics*
Genes, Protozoan
Genotype*
Humans
Phylogeny
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Zoonoses / parasitology*

Grants and funding

CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States