Molecular Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of Cryptosporidium Isolates from a Kangaroo

PurposeTo identify the species/genotype of a Cryptosporidium isolated from faeces of kangaroos in a zoo in Yunnan, providing theoretical basis for the prevention and control of cryptosporidiosis in the zoo of Yunnan.

MethodsPrimers were designed target to the conserved sequence of ribosomal RNA gene of Cryptosporidium for nested PCR amplification, and the PCR products was sequenced and compared. DNAMAN and MEGA 7.0 was used for homology analysis and phylogenetic tree was constructed to determine the genetic relationship between the kangaroo isolates and other Cryptosporidium.

ResultsThe positive fragment of Cryptosporidium was successfully amplified. BLAST results showed that the Cryptosporidium isolated from kangaroo was identical to Cryptosporidium muris, which was 100% homologous to C. muris. The phylogenetic tree showed that the isolated Cryptosporidium and C. muris were in the same genetic branch and most closely related, a gastric parasitic Cryptosporidium, and belonged to the gastro parasitic Cryptosporidium category.

ConclusionThe kangaroo in this zoo shows the presence of Cryptosporidium infection and the pathogen is identified as C. muris, which has zoonosis potential. This is the first report of C. muris infection in kangaroo in China.