Zoonotic Cryptosporidium Species Infections in Humans and Sympatric Non-Human Primates, Chlorocebus Aethiops and Colobus Guereza in Wurgissa and Hawassa, Ethiopia
| dc.contributor.advisor | Beyene Petros | |
| dc.contributor.author | Ambachew Woreta | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-09-01T00:18:02Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-09-01T00:18:02Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2023-06 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Cryptosporidiosis has become a significant public and veterinary health concern worldwide. In Ethiopia, non-Human Primates (NHPs), Chlorocebus aethiops and Colobus guereza monkeys are now living in overlapping/adjacent geographical areas to human settlements and no studies in Ethiopia have assessed Cryptosporidium infection at species or genotypes level on NHPs. Therefore, this cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. infections, identify species and subtypes in both NHPs and humans in Ethiopia. Fecal samples were collected from 187 humans (94 from Wurgissa and 93 from Hawassa) and 185 NHPS (147 from Wurgissa and 38 from Hawassa) in Ethiopia. Humans who visited health centers (WHC and HHC) and volunteered to participate were interviewed and screened for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. using modified Ziehl–Neelsen technique. All samples were submitted to Rouen University Hospital, France, for molecular analysis using DNA sequencing of the SSU 18S rRNA and Gp60 genes. The overall prevalence of infection was 46% (n = 86) by microscope and PCR. When 48 (out of 86) PCR positive samples were genotyped, two species were identified: C. parvum (n = 40) and C. hominis (n = 8). When 15 of the 40 C. parvum isolates were subtyped, zoonotic subtypes of IIaA14G1R1 (n = 1), IIaA15G2R1 (n = 1), IIaA16G1R1 (n = 2), IIaA16G3R1 (n = 2), IIaA17G1R1 (n = 1), IIaA19G1R1 (n = 1), IIaA20G1R1 (n = 3), IIaA22G1R1 (n = 1), IIaA22G2R1 (n = 1), IIdA23G1 (n = 1) and IIdA24G1 (n = 1) were identified. When 6 of the 8 C. hominis isolates were subtyped, subtypes IaA20 (n = 5), and IdA21 (n = 1) were identified. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. infection in NHPs using molecular detection was 70.9 % (131/185). Of the 131 Cryptosporidium spp. infection in NHPs, 54 have been characterized and sequence analysis showed C. parvum (n=36), C. hominis (n=15), and C. cuniculus (n=3). C. parvum IIa subtype family (IIaA17G1R1) was the common subtype in NHPs. Also, multiple subtype families of C. hominis (Ia, Ib, Id, and Ie) were documented. Humans who had contact with NHPs and diarrheal person, family size and education status were major risk factors associated with Cryptosporidium spp. infection. The present study has provided strong evidence that NHPs in Ethiopia harbor Cryptosporidium spp. of public health importance and can be considered potential reservoirs of human cryptosporidiosis. Furthermore, the predominant occurrence of C. parvum in humans and NHPs and the existence of C. hominis are suggestive of zoonotic transmission. Thus, studies involving experimental cross infections of parasite isolates from both hosts and molecular characterization of the parasites can provide definitive evidence for the role of NHPs in the transmission of Cryptosporidium spp. to humans | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/7291 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_US | |
| dc.publisher | Addis Ababa University | |
| dc.subject | Humans | |
| dc.subject | Non-Human Primates | |
| dc.subject | Cryptosporidium Spp. | |
| dc.subject | Zoonotic | |
| dc.title | Zoonotic Cryptosporidium Species Infections in Humans and Sympatric Non-Human Primates, Chlorocebus Aethiops and Colobus Guereza in Wurgissa and Hawassa, Ethiopia | |
| dc.type | Thesis |