J Korean Med Sci.  2014 Oct;29(10):1367-1371. 10.3346/jkms.2014.29.10.1367.

Detection of Cryptosporidium parvum in Environmental Soil and Vegetables

• Hong S
• Kim K
• Yoon S
• Park WY
• Sim S
• Yu JR

• KMID: 2129626
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2014.29.10.1367

Abstract

Cryptosporidium parvum is a zoonotic protozoan parasite that causes cryptosporidial enteritis. Numerous outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis have been reported worldwide. Cryptosporidium is transmitted to hosts via consumption of contaminated water and food but also by direct contact with contaminated soil or infected hosts. The present study investigated farm soil collected from 34 locations along the western Korean peninsula and 24 vegetables purchased from local grocery markets in Seoul. The soil and vegetable samples were examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to estimate the risk of infection. Eleven of 34 locations (32.4%) and 3 of 24 vegetable samples (12.5%) were contaminated with Cryptosporidium parvum, as confirmed by TaqI enzyme digestion of qPCR products and DNA sequencing. It is suggested that Cryptosporidium infection can be mediated via farm soil and vegetables. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce contamination of this organism in view of public health.

Keyword

Cryptosporidium parvum; Soil; Vegetables

MeSH Terms

Base Sequence
Cryptosporidiosis/parasitology
Cryptosporidium parvum/*genetics/*isolation & purification
DNA, Protozoan/analysis/genetics
Enteritis/parasitology
Foodborne Diseases/*parasitology
Humans
Sequence Alignment
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Soil/*parasitology
Vegetables/*parasitology
DNA, Protozoan
Soil

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Locations of the surveyed areas. (a) Hwaseong-si, (b) Seosan-si, (c) Hongsung-gun, (d) Boryeong-si, (e) Seocheon-gun, (f) Gunsan-si, (g) Buan-gun.

• 

  Fig. 2 Agarose gel electrophoresis of the qPCR products from soil samples. qPCR was performed to detect Cryptosporidium parvum SWI2/SNF2 ATPase, a Rad16 ortholog gene (GenBank No. XM_625623). (A) qPCR products of soil samples (242 bp). (B) DNA fragments generated from TaqI enzyme digests of the qPCR products. L, 100-bp ladder; ① soils from Hwaseong-si, ② Seosan-si, ③-⑧ Hongseong-gun, ⑨-⑩ Boryeong-si, ⑪ Seocheon-si; Cp, C. parvum DNA; Ch, C. hominis DNA.

• 

  Fig. 3 Agarose gel electrophoresis of the qPCR products from food samples. qPCR was performed to detect the C. parvum SWI2/SNF2 ATPase, Rad16 ortholog gene (GenBank No. XM_625623). (A) qPCR products of food samples (242 bp). (B) DNA fragments generated by TaqI enzyme digestion of the qPCR products. L, 100-bp ladder; 1, carrot; 2, winter-grown cabbage; 3, blueberry; Cp, C. parvum DNA.

• 

  Fig. 4 Alignment of the qPCR product sequences belonging to the positive soil (A) and food (B) samples generated by using the Clone Manager 7. qPCR was performed to detect C. parvum SWI2/SNF2 ATPase, Rad16 ortholog gene (GenBank No. XM_625623).

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