Intra-Species Diversity and Panmictic Structure of Cryptosporidium parvum Populations in Cattle Farms in Northern Spain

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148811
• Publication Date: 2016-02-05T18:55:28Z
• Authors: Ana Ramo; Joaquín Quílez; Luis Monteagudo; Emilio Del Cacho; Caridad Sánchez-A...
• Keywords: Minisatellite; Multilocus sequence typing

The intra-herd and intra-host genetic variability of 123 Cryptosporidium parvum isolates was investigated using a multilocus fragment typing approach with eleven variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) loci the GP60 gene. Isolates were collected from intensively farmed diarrheic pre-weaned calves originating 31 dairy farms in three adjoining regions northern Spain (País Vasco, Cantabria Asturias). tool demonstrated an acceptable typeability, 104/123 samples amplifying at all twelve loci. ML2, TP14, previously un-described minisatellite locus cgd2_3850 most discriminatory markers, while others may be dismissed as monomorphic (MSB) or less informative (CP47, ML1 novel minisatellites Cgd1_3670 Cgd6_3940). 12-satellite provided Hunter-Gaston index (HGDI) 0.987 (95% CI, 0.982–0.992), differentiated total 70 subtypes (MLTs). inclusion only four markers dramatically reduced number MLTs (n: 44) but hardly HGDI value. A 54 distinctive for individual farms, indicating that cryptosporidiosis is endemic condition on cattle farms. However, high rate mixed infections detected, suggesting frequent meiotic recombination. Namely, multiple seen where several specimens analyzed (90.5%), up to 9 being found one farm, populations reported 11/29 Bayesian Structure analysis showed over 35% had ancestry evolutionary descent eBURST algorithm detected (21.4%) appearing singletons, degree divergence. Linkage evidence linkage equilibrium overall panmictic structure within C. population this discrete geographical area.