Genetic Diversity of Cryptosporidium Spp. in Njoro Sub County, Nakuru, Kenya

Abstract Cryptosporidium spp. cause Cryptosporidiosis in humans through zoonotic and anthroponotic transmission. Previous studies have illustrated the significance of domestic animals as reservoirs of this parasite. However, there is no information on the Cryptosporidium spp. and genotypes circulating in Njoro Sub County. A total of 2174 samples from humans, cattle, chicken, sheep and goats were assessed for presence of Cryptosporidium spp. Thirty-three positive samples were successfully sequenced. The sequences obtained were compared to Cryptosporidium sequences in the GenBank using NCBI’s (National Center for Biotechnology Information) online BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) algorithmic program. Sequence alignment was done using the Clustal W program and phylogenetic analysis was executed in MEGA 6 (Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis version 6.0). The Cryptosporidium spp. present in the watershed showed great genetic diversity with nine (9) Cryptosporidium spp. namely: C. parvum, C. hominis, C. ubiquitum, C. meleagridis, C. andersoni, C. baileyi, C. muris, C. xiaoi and C. viatorum. Cattle were the biggest reservoirs of zoonotic Cryptosporidium spp. hence a potential source of zoonosis in humans while goats had the least species. This is the first study that reported presence of C. viatorum in Kenya.