Cryptosporidium mortiferum, a parasite transmitted by squirrels, is beginning to spread in Europe. C. mortiferum was detected in a symptomatic human. A 44-year-old man from the Czech Republic suffered from gastroenteritis characterized by abdominal pain, nausea, and loose stools. Molecular analyses confirmed the XIVaA20G2T1 subtype in the patient's stool. At the same time, the same subtype of C. mortiferum was detected in three red squirrels and two ground squirrels in the area where the patient lived. The intensity of the infection was significantly higher in the red squirrels that died, while the ground squirrels showed no symptoms. The results of the study indicate that red squirrels and ground squirrels are the reservoirs for the infection.

• Klíčová slova
• Cryptosporidium mortiferum, human, infection, squirrels,
• MeSH
• Cryptosporidium * genetika   izolace a purifikace   klasifikace   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• gastroenteritida parazitologie   MeSH
• kryptosporidióza * parazitologie   přenos   epidemiologie   diagnóza   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Sciuridae * parazitologie   MeSH
• zdroje nemoci parazitologie   MeSH
• zoonózy * parazitologie   přenos   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• kazuistiky MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Evropa MeSH

Cryptosporidium Tyzzer, 1910 is one of the most common protistan parasites of vertebrates. The results of this study provide the first data on Cryptosporidium diversity in the European ground squirrel Spermophilus citellus (Linnaeus). A total of 128 faecal samples of European ground squirrels from 39 localities in the Czech Republic were analysed for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. by microscopy and PCR/sequence analysis of small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU) and the actin gene. While the microscopical examination did not reveal the presence of any Cryptosporidium oocysts, eight samples from six localities were PCR-positive. Phylogenetic analyses revealed the presence of five different Cryptosporidium spp. isolates. Four isolates, designated as Cryptosporidium sp. isolate Sc01-04, detected in wild populations and never recorded before, clustered closely to Cryptosporidium genotypes that have previously been found in North American ground squirrels' species. Cryptosporidium sciurinum Prediger, Ježková, Holubová, Sak, Konečný, Rost, McEvoy, Rajský et Kváč, 2021 was found in an animal sanctuary. Because C. sciurinum had previously been detected in Eurasian red squirrels Sciurus vulgaris Linnaeus at the same facility, it can be concluded that this Cryptosporidium was transmitted from tree squirrels to ground squirrels within the animal sanctuary. The results indicate that populations of European and North American ground squirrels are parasitised by different Cryptosporidium spp. At the same time, this is the first description of the occurrence of C. sciurinum in ground squirrels.

• Klíčová slova
• PCR, SSU, Sciuridae, actin, genotyping, rodents,
• MeSH
• Cryptosporidium * MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• kryptosporidióza * epidemiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• Sciuridae parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Severní Amerika MeSH

Cryptosporidium spp. are common protozoan pathogens in mammals. With pet rodents being integrated into modern life, the potential roles of them in transmitting parasites to humans need assessments. In the present study, we examined the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. in pet rodents in Guangdong, south China. A total of 697 fecal samples were collected from 11 species of rodents in seven pet shops, one pet market and one farm. Cryptosporidium spp. were identified by PCR analysis of the small subunit rRNA gene. An overall infection rate of 36.9% (257/697) was obtained, with infection rates varying from 9.3% in chinchillas, 52.3% in guinea pigs, 57.1% in squirrels, to 68.4% in cricetid animals. Nine Cryptosporidium species and genotypes were identified, including C. wrairi (in 129 guinea pigs), C. andersoni (in 34 hamsters), C. homai (in 32 guinea pigs), Cryptosporidium hamster genotype (in 30 hamsters), C. ubiquitum (in 24 chinchillas and squirrels), C. parvum (in 2 chinchillas), Cryptosporidium ferret genotype (in 2 chipmunks), C. muris (in 1 hamster and 1 guinea pig), and Cryptosporidium chipmunk genotype V (in 1 chinchilla and 1 chipmunk). Sequence analysis of the 60 kDa glycoprotein gene identified three subtype families of C. ubiquitum, including family XIId in 15 chinchillas, XIIa in 5 chinchillas, and a new subtype family (XIIi) in 1 squirrel. The identification of C. parvum and C. ubiquitum in pet rodents suggests that these animals, especially chinchillas, could serve as reservoirs of human-pathogenic Cryptosporidium spp. Hygiene should be practiced in the rear and care of these animals, and One Health measures should be developed to reduce the occurrence of zoonotic Cryptosporidium infections due to contact with pet rodents.

• Klíčová slova
• Cryptosporidium, Molecular epidemiology, One health, Pet rodents, Zoonosis,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Cryptosporidium spp. are common protozoan pathogens in mammals. The diversity and biology of Cryptosporidium in tree squirrels are not well studied. A total of 258 Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) from 25 and 15 locations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, respectively, were examined for Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts and specific DNA at the SSU, actin, HSP70, TRAP-C1, COWP, and gp60 loci. Out of 26 positive animals, only juveniles (9/12) were microscopically positive (18,000 to 72,000 OPG), and molecular analyses revealed the presence of Cryptosporidium sp. ferret genotype in all specimens. Oocysts obtained from naturally-infected squirrels measured 5.54-5.22 μm and were not infectious for laboratory mice (BALB/c and SCID), Mongolian gerbils, Guinea pigs, Southern multimammate mice, chickens, or budgerigars. None of naturally infected squirrels showed clinical signs of disease. The frequency of occurrence of the ferret genotype in squirrels did not vary statistically based on host age, gender or country of capture. Phylogenetic analysis of sequences from six loci revealed that Cryptosporidium sp. ferret genotype is genetically distinct from the currently accepted Cryptosporidium species. Morphological and biological data from this and previous studies support the establishment of Cryptosporidium sp. ferret genotype as a new species, Cryptosporidium sciurinum n. sp.

• Klíčová slova
• Cryptosporidium sp. ferret genotype, biology, course of infection, infectivity, occurrence, oocyst size, phylogeny,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. in Apodemus spp. (striped field mouse, yellow-necked mouse and wood mouse) from 16 European countries was examined by PCR/sequencing of isolates from 437 animals. Overall, 13.7% (60/437) of animals were positive for Cryptosporidium by PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of small-subunit rRNA, Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein and actin gene sequences showed the presence of Cryptosporidium ditrichi (22/60), Cryptosporidium apodemi (13/60), Cryptosporidium apodemus genotype I (8/60), Cryptosporidium apodemus genotype II (9/60), Cryptosporidium parvum (2/60), Cryptosporidium microti (2/60), Cryptosporidium muris (2/60) and Cryptosporidium tyzzeri (2/60). At the gp60 locus, novel gp60 families XVIIa and XVIIIa were identified in Cryptosporidium apodemus genotype I and II, respectively, subtype IIaA16G1R1b was identified in C. parvum, and subtypes IXaA8 and IXcA6 in C. tyzzeri. Only animals infected with C. ditrichi, C. apodemi, and Cryptosporidium apodemus genotypes shed oocysts that were detectable by microscopy, with the infection intensity ranging from 2000 to 52,000 oocysts per gram of faeces. None of the faecal samples was diarrheic in the time of the sampling.

• Klíčová slova
• Epidemiology, Molecular analyses, Phylogeny, Rodentia,
• MeSH
• Cryptosporidium genetika   MeSH
• genetická variace * MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• kryptosporidióza parazitologie   MeSH
• Murinae mikrobiologie   MeSH
• myši MeSH
• RNA ribozomální 18S genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH
• Názvy látek
• RNA ribozomální 18S MeSH

Fecal samples from wild-caught common voles (n = 328) from 16 locations in the Czech Republic were screened for Cryptosporidium by microscopy and PCR/sequencing at loci coding small-subunit rRNA, Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein, actin and 70 kDa heat shock protein. Cryptosporidium infections were detected in 74 voles (22.6%). Rates of infection did not differ between males and females nor between juveniles and adults. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of eight Cryptosporidium species/genotypes including two new species, C. alticolis and C. microti. These species from wild-caught common voles were able to infect common and meadow voles under experimental conditions, with a prepatent period of 3-5 days post-infection (DPI), but they were not infectious for various other rodents or chickens. Meadow voles lost infection earlier than common voles (11-14 vs 13-16 DPI) and had significantly lower infection intensity. Cryptosporidium alticolis infects the anterior small intestine and has larger oocysts (5.4 × 4.9 µm), whereas C. microti infects the large intestine and has smaller oocysts (4.3 × 4.1 µm). None of the rodents developed clinical signs of infection. Genetic and biological data support the establishment of C. alticolis and C. microti as separate species of the genus Cryptosporidium.

• Klíčová slova
• Experimental infection, Rodentia, molecular analyses, oocyst size, phylogeny, voles,
• MeSH
• Arvicolinae parazitologie   MeSH
• Cryptosporidium klasifikace   genetika   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• fluorescenční mikroskopie MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• gastrointestinální trakt parazitologie   patologie   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• genetická variace MeSH
• interferenční mikroskopie MeSH
• kryptosporidióza epidemiologie   parazitologie   přenos   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• kur domácí MeSH
• mikroskopie elektronová rastrovací MeSH
• Murinae MeSH
• myši inbrední BALB C MeSH
• myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
• myši MeSH
• nemoci hlodavců epidemiologie   parazitologie   přenos   MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• protozoální DNA chemie   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• RNA ribozomální genetika   MeSH
• sekvence nukleotidů MeSH
• sekvenční seřazení veterinární   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• myši MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• protozoální DNA MeSH
• RNA ribozomální MeSH

We undertook a study on Cryptosporidium spp. in wild cricetid rodents. Fecal samples were collected from meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus), southern red-backed voles (Myodes gapperi), woodland voles (Microtus pinetorum), muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) and Peromyscus spp. mice in North America, and from bank voles (Myodes glareolus) and common voles (Microtus arvalis) in Europe. Isolates were characterized by sequence and phylogenetic analyses of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU) and actin genes. Overall, 33·2% (362/1089) of cricetids tested positive for Cryptosporidium, with a greater prevalence in cricetids from North America (50·7%; 302/596) than Europe (12·1%; 60/493). Principal Coordinate analysis separated SSU sequences into three major groups (G1-G3), each represented by sequences from North American and European cricetids. A maximum likelihood tree of SSU sequences had low bootstrap support and showed G1 to be more heterogeneous than G2 or G3. Actin and concatenated actin-SSU trees, which were better resolved and had higher bootstrap support than the SSU phylogeny, showed that closely related cricetid hosts in Europe and North America are infected with closely related Cryptosporidium genotypes. Cricetids were not major reservoirs of human pathogenic Cryptosporidium spp.

• Klíčová slova
• Cryptosporidium, Cricetidae, biogeography, phylogenetics,
• MeSH
• Arvicolinae parazitologie   MeSH
• Cryptosporidium klasifikace   izolace a purifikace   patogenita   fyziologie   MeSH
• divoká zvířata parazitologie   MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• fylogeografie MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• hlodavci parazitologie   MeSH
• kryptosporidióza epidemiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• myši parazitologie   MeSH
• RNA ribozomální genetika   MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
• zdroje nemoci parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa epidemiologie   MeSH
• Severní Amerika epidemiologie   MeSH
• Názvy látek
• RNA ribozomální MeSH