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Cryptosporidium muris in a Texas Canine Population

Molecular technology has led to the discovery of previously unrecognized Cryptosporidium species in new hosts, such as C. canis in humans. The notion that dogs may transmit Cryptosporidium species to humans has significant public health implications, and additional studies are merited. The purpose of this study was to examine a group of kenneled dogs to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium species infection and to identify parasite species. Prevalence of active infection was 71%. Six positive samples were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction amplification of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis to identify the Cryptosporidium species. Restriction digest patterns identified C. muris as the infecting species in all six dogs; species identity was confirmed by genetic sequencing. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a naturally occurring C. muris infection in a canine host. The finding of C. muris in asymptomatic canines supports the notion of dogs as potential sources of human infection.

Received October 12, 2007. Accepted for publication March 11, 2008.

Financial support: This study was supported in part by the Environmental Protection Agency STAR grant R-82918001.

^* Address correspondence to Cynthia L. Chappell, University of Texas School of Public Health, 1200 Herman Pressler Street, Suite 118A Houston, TX 77030. E-mail: cynthia.l.chappell{at}uth.tmc.edu

Authors’ addresses: Philip J. Lupo, University of Texas School of Public Health, 1200 Herman Pressler Street, Room E645, Houston, TX 77030, Tel: 713-500-9221, Fax: 713-500-9020, E-mail: Philip.J.Lupo{at}uth.tmc.edu. Rebecca Langer-Curry, Office of Environmental Safety, Baylor College of Medicine, 2450 Holcombe Boulevard, Room OW200B, BCM175, Houston, TX 77021, E-mail: langercu{at}bcm.tmc.edu. Mary Robinson, Center for Laboratory Animal Medicine and Care, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, IMM, Room 241, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, E-mail: Mary.A.Robinson{at}uth.tmc.edu. Pablo C. Okhuysen, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical School, 6431 Fannin, Room 2.112, Houston, TX 77030, E-mail: Pablo.C.Okhuysen{at}uth.tmc.edu. Cynthia L. Chappell, University of Texas School of Public Health, 1200 Herman Pressler Street, Suite 118A Houston, TX 77030, Tel: 713-500-9026, Fax: 713-500-9020, E-mail: Cynthia.L.Chappell{at}uth.tmc.edu.