Evidence for a new species of Cryptosporidium infecting tortoises: Cryptosporidium ducismarci.

ABSTRACT: Cryptosporidiosis affects the gastrointestinal and respiratory tract of humans as well as of a wide range of companion, farm, laboratory and wild animals. In the past few years, three independent studies have provided strong evidence for the existence of a distinct Cryptosporidium species affecting tortoises and likely circulating in other reptile species as well. A new Cryptosporidium genotype was firstly detected and genetically characterized in a marginated tortoise in Italy in 2007 and named Cryptosporidium sp. ex Testudo marginata CrIT-20. The phylogenetic analysis of this isolate indicated that this Cryptosporidium was unique and belonged to the intestinal clade. These findings were later on confirmed by the detection of genetic homologies of isolates from a python and a chameleon fr

SUBMITTER: Traversa D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2857862 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature