Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> Species in Diarrheic Children in Cameroon
Cryptosporidiosis remains a major cause of diarrhea-related childhood death, particularly in developing countries. Although effective anti-retroviral therapy has significantly reduced the cryptosporidiosis burden in western nations, the situation in developing countries remains alarming due to limit...
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2025-03-01
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| author | Bertrand Sone Lum Abienwi Ambe Mireille Nguele Ampama Constance Ajohkoh Desmond Che Julien Alban Nguinkal Anja Taubert Carlos Hermosilla Faustin Kamena |
| author_facet | Bertrand Sone Lum Abienwi Ambe Mireille Nguele Ampama Constance Ajohkoh Desmond Che Julien Alban Nguinkal Anja Taubert Carlos Hermosilla Faustin Kamena |
| author_sort | Bertrand Sone |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cryptosporidiosis remains a major cause of diarrhea-related childhood death, particularly in developing countries. Although effective anti-retroviral therapy has significantly reduced the cryptosporidiosis burden in western nations, the situation in developing countries remains alarming due to limited therapeutic options and a lack of preventive measures. To better control disease transmission and develop effective prevention strategies, a thorough understanding of the genetic diversity of circulating species is crucial. While cryptosporidiosis has previously been reported in Cameroon, information on the genetic diversity of parasite strains is lacking. In a large cross-sectional study conducted between March 2020 and March 2021 in four regions of Cameroon, Southwest, Littoral, Center and West, a total of 1119 fecal samples of children (<i>n</i> = 1119) were collected and genetically analyzed. This study aimed to assess the genetic diversity of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> strains circulating in this patient cohort in Cameroon. Using modified Ziehl–Neelsen fecal smear staining, an overall prevalence of 8.5% (96/1119) was recorded. PCR analysis revealed a prevalence of 15.4% in the Center, 7.2% in the Littoral, 10.5% in the West, and 13.1% in the Southwest regions. Molecular analysis identified <i>Cryptosporidium. hominis</i> and <i>Cryptosporidium parvum</i> as circulating species, with all subtype families suggesting anthroponotic transmission. No zoonotic subtypes of <i>C. parvum</i> were detected. These findings confirm that cryptosporidiosis transmission in Cameroon is primarily anthroponotic. Nonetheless, much larger epidemiological surveys, including other patient cohorts, are necessary for final confirmation of this statement. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
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| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj-art-d11a1e92120041b0a0bebd63caa7dd672025-08-20T02:42:28ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-03-0114328710.3390/pathogens14030287Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> Species in Diarrheic Children in CameroonBertrand Sone0Lum Abienwi Ambe1Mireille Nguele Ampama2Constance Ajohkoh3Desmond Che4Julien Alban Nguinkal5Anja Taubert6Carlos Hermosilla7Faustin Kamena8Laboratory for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, CameroonLaboratory for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, CameroonInstitute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg (B.F.S.), Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, GermanyLaboratory for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, CameroonLaboratory for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, CameroonDepartment of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, GermanyInstitute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg (B.F.S.), Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, GermanyInstitute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg (B.F.S.), Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, GermanyLaboratory for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, CameroonCryptosporidiosis remains a major cause of diarrhea-related childhood death, particularly in developing countries. Although effective anti-retroviral therapy has significantly reduced the cryptosporidiosis burden in western nations, the situation in developing countries remains alarming due to limited therapeutic options and a lack of preventive measures. To better control disease transmission and develop effective prevention strategies, a thorough understanding of the genetic diversity of circulating species is crucial. While cryptosporidiosis has previously been reported in Cameroon, information on the genetic diversity of parasite strains is lacking. In a large cross-sectional study conducted between March 2020 and March 2021 in four regions of Cameroon, Southwest, Littoral, Center and West, a total of 1119 fecal samples of children (<i>n</i> = 1119) were collected and genetically analyzed. This study aimed to assess the genetic diversity of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> strains circulating in this patient cohort in Cameroon. Using modified Ziehl–Neelsen fecal smear staining, an overall prevalence of 8.5% (96/1119) was recorded. PCR analysis revealed a prevalence of 15.4% in the Center, 7.2% in the Littoral, 10.5% in the West, and 13.1% in the Southwest regions. Molecular analysis identified <i>Cryptosporidium. hominis</i> and <i>Cryptosporidium parvum</i> as circulating species, with all subtype families suggesting anthroponotic transmission. No zoonotic subtypes of <i>C. parvum</i> were detected. These findings confirm that cryptosporidiosis transmission in Cameroon is primarily anthroponotic. Nonetheless, much larger epidemiological surveys, including other patient cohorts, are necessary for final confirmation of this statement.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/3/287<i>Cryptosporidium</i>diarrheagenotypechildrenCameroon |
| spellingShingle | Bertrand Sone Lum Abienwi Ambe Mireille Nguele Ampama Constance Ajohkoh Desmond Che Julien Alban Nguinkal Anja Taubert Carlos Hermosilla Faustin Kamena Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> Species in Diarrheic Children in Cameroon Pathogens <i>Cryptosporidium</i> diarrhea genotype children Cameroon |
| title | Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> Species in Diarrheic Children in Cameroon |
| title_full | Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> Species in Diarrheic Children in Cameroon |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> Species in Diarrheic Children in Cameroon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> Species in Diarrheic Children in Cameroon |
| title_short | Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> Species in Diarrheic Children in Cameroon |
| title_sort | prevalence and molecular characterization of i cryptosporidium i species in diarrheic children in cameroon |
| topic | <i>Cryptosporidium</i> diarrhea genotype children Cameroon |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/3/287 |
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