Cryptosporidium viatorum n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporidiidae) among travellers returning to Great Britain from the Indian subcontinent, 2007–2011

A novel Cryptosporidium genotype was identified, among travellers with gastro-intestinal symptoms returning to Great Britain from the Indian subcontinent, for which we propose the name Cryptosporidium viatorum n. sp. The epidemiology of these cases was distinctly different from those with Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis. Of the 10 cases identified involving C. viatorum, most were in the first quarter of the year. One occurred in 2007, one in 2008, three in 2010 and five to end March 2011. The median age was 19 years but most were in the 20–29 years age group and seven were male. The symptoms included diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and fever. Compared with cases due to C. hominis and C. parvum, vomiting was reported less often, although the duration of gastro-intestinal symptoms was longer. The cases of C. viatorum were all travellers to the Indian subcontinent, whereas cases of C. hominis and C. parvum were more likely to have travelled elsewhere. Cryptosporidium viatorum isolates had indistinguishable sequences at each of the70 kDa heat shock protein (HSP70), actin and ssrRNA loci which did not match any published previously and, although phylogenetically most similar to Cryptosporidium fayeri, they were distinct (<98% similarity) at the ssrRNA, HSP70 and actin genes. Morphologically, oocysts were typical of predominantly human-infecting species. Cryptosporidium viatorum n. sp. is proposed and work is warranted to investigate further the public health significance and occurrence elsewhere of this emerging parasite.

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► Cryptosporidium viatorum n. sp.
► Cryptosporidium viatorum is associated with travel to the Indian subcontinent.
► Cryptosporidium viatorum is genetically and epidemiologically distinct from other Cryptosporidium spp.