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International journal for parasitology2023; 53(10); 545-554; doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.02.008

Cryptosporidium equi n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporidiidae): Biological and genetic characterisations.

Abstract: The horse genotype is one of three common Cryptosporidium spp. in equine animals and has been identified in some human cases. The species status of Cryptosporidium horse genotype remains unclear due to the lack of extensive morphological, biological, and genetic data. In the present study, we have conducted biological and whole genome sequence analyses of an isolate of the genotype from hedgehogs and proposed to name it Cryptosporidium equi n. sp. to reflect its common occurrence in equine animals. Oocysts of C. equi measured 5.12 ± 0.36 μm × 4.46 ± 0.21 μm with a shape index of 1.15 ± 0.08 (n = 50). Cryptosporidium equi was infectious to 3-week-old four-toed hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris) and mice, with a prepatent period of 2-9 days and a patent period of 30-40 days in hedgehogs. It was not infectious to rats and rabbits. Phylogenetic analyses of small subunit rRNA, 70 kDa heat shock protein, actin, 60 kDa glycoprotein and 100 other orthologous genes revealed that C. equi is genetically distinct from other known Cryptosporidium species and genotypes. The sequence identity between C. equi and Cryptosporidium parvum genomes is 97.9%. Compared with C. parvum, C. equi has lost two MEDLE genes and one insulinase-like protease gene and gained one SKSR gene. In addition, 60 genes have highly divergent sequences (sequence differences ≥ 5.0%), including those encoding mucin-like glycoproteins, insulinase-like peptidases, and MEDLE and SKSR proteins. The genetic uniqueness of C. equi supports its increasing host range and the naming of it as a valid Cryptosporidium species. This is the first known use of whole genome sequence data in delineating new Cryptosporidium species.
Copyright © 2023 Australian Society for Parasitology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2023-05-05 PubMed ID: 37150475DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.02.008Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research paper provides an in-depth study and genome sequence analyses of an isolate of the Cryptosporidium horse genotype, proposing it as a new species named Cryptosporidium equi due to its common occurrence in horse species. The investigation concludes that C. equi is indeed a distinct and valid Cryptosporidium species.

Introduction and Objectives

  • The main objective of the study was to establish the species status of the Cryptosporidium horse genotype by conducting biological and whole genome sequence analyses.
  • The Cryptosporidium horse genotype has been identified in horses and in some human cases.
  • The study aimed to fill the data gap surrounding the morphological, biological, and genetic traits of this genotype.

Methodology

  • The researchers analysed an isolate of the genotype from hedgehogs, naming it Cryptosporidium equi n. sp.
  • Oocysts of C. equi were measured and the pathogen’s infectivity was tested on animals such as three-week-old four-toed hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris) and mice.
  • Genetic distinction of C. equi was confirmed through phylogenetic analyses of small subunit rRNA, 70 kDa heat shock protein, actin, 60 kDa glycoprotein, and 100 other orthologous genes.

Results and Findings

  • C. equi infected hedgehogs and mice with a prepatent period of 2-9 days and a patent period of 30-40 days, but it was not infectious to rats and rabbits.
  • C. equi was found to be genetically distinct from other known Cryptosporidium species and genotypes, with a sequence identity with Cryptosporidium parvum genomes of 97.9%.
  • Compared to C. parvum, C. equi has lost two MEDLE genes and one insulinase-like protease gene and has gained one SKSR gene.
  • 60 genes have highly divergent sequences, and they encode mucin-like glycoproteins, insulinase-like peptidases, and MEDLE and SKSR proteins.

Conclusion

  • The genetic uniqueness of C. equi supports its increasing host range and its classification as a valid Cryptosporidium species.
  • This is the first known use of whole genome sequence data in delineating new Cryptosporidium species.

Cite This Article

APA
Huang J, Chen M, He Y, Chen H, Huang M, Li N, Ryan U, Kváč M, Feng Y, Xiao L, Guo Y. (2023). Cryptosporidium equi n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporidiidae): Biological and genetic characterisations. Int J Parasitol, 53(10), 545-554. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.02.008

Publication

International journal for parasitology
ISSN: 1879-0135
NlmUniqueID: 0314024
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 53
Issue: 10
Pages: 545-554
PII: S0020-7519(23)00091-7

Researcher Affiliations

Huang, Jianbo
  • Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
Chen, Ming
  • Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
He, Yongli
  • Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
Chen, Haoyu
  • Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
Huang, Mingming
  • Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
Li, Na
  • Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
Ryan, Una
  • Harry Butler Institute, Vector- and Water-Borne Pathogen Research Group, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia.
Kváč, Martin
  • Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice 37005, Czech Republic.
Feng, Yaoyu
  • Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
Xiao, Lihua
  • Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China. Electronic address: lxiao1961@gmail.com.
Guo, Yaqiong
  • Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China. Electronic address: guoyq@scau.edu.cn.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Mice
  • Rats
  • Humans
  • Rabbits
  • Cryptosporidium / genetics
  • Cryptosporidiosis
  • Cryptosporidiidae
  • Phylogeny
  • Hedgehogs
  • Insulysin / genetics
  • Genotype
  • Feces

Citations

This article has been cited 21 times.
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