ABSTRACT
Cryptosporidium parvum, an intestinal coccidian parasite, was isolated from faeces and intestinal biopsies of a 9-week-old puppy with acute parvoviral gastroenteritis. Gene sequence analysis identified a Cryptosporidium genotype not previously recorded in Australia. The puppy recovered after treatment with crystalloid fluids, synthetic and natural colloids and jejunostomy tube feeding.
Subject(s)
Cryptosporidiosis/veterinary , Cryptosporidium parvum/isolation & purification , Dog Diseases/diagnosis , Gastroenteritis/veterinary , Parvoviridae Infections/veterinary , Parvovirus, Canine/isolation & purification , Animals , Animals, Newborn , Antibodies, Viral/isolation & purification , Cryptosporidiosis/complications , Cryptosporidiosis/diagnosis , Cryptosporidium parvum/genetics , DNA, Protozoan/isolation & purification , Diagnosis, Differential , Dogs , Feces/parasitology , Gastroenteritis/complications , Gastroenteritis/diagnosis , Male , Parvoviridae Infections/complications , Parvoviridae Infections/diagnosis , Parvovirus, Canine/immunology , Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinaryABSTRACT
Genetic and phylogenetic characterization of Cryptosporidium isolates at two loci (18S rRNA gene and heat shock gene) from both Australian and United States dogs demonstrated that dog-derived Cryptosporidium isolates had a distinct genotype which is conserved across geographic areas. Phylogenetic analysis provided support for the idea that the "dog" genotype is, in fact, a valid species.
