국내 야생 설치류 및 식충류의 크립토스포리디움 감염 진단 및 분자생물학적 연구

Abstract

In order to examine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium in wild rodents and insectivores of South Korea and to assess their potential role as a source of human cryptosporidiosis, a total of 199 wild rodents and insectivore specimens were collected and screened for Cryptosporidium infection, from 10 regions of South Korea over the period of 2 years (2012-2013). A nested-PCR amplification of Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein (COWP) gene fragment revealed an overall prevalence of 34.2% (68/199). The sequence analysis of 18S rRNA gene locus of Cryptosporidium were performed in those samples that tested positive by COWP amplification PCR and identified 4 species/genotypes

chipmunk genotype 1, cervine genotype 1, C. muris and a new genotype which is closely related to bear genotype. The new genotype isolated from 12 Apodemus agrarius and 2 Apodemus chejuensis was not previously identified as known species or genotype, and therefore, it is supposed to be a novel genotype. In addition, the host spectrum of Cryptosporidium was expended to A. agrarius and C. lasiura, which had not been reported before. In this study, we found that the Korean wild rodents and insectivores were infected with various Cryptosporidium spp. with large intra-genotypic variation, indicating that they may function as potential reservoirs transmitting zoonotic Cryptosporidium to livestock and humans.