Molecular Detection of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> Species in Wildlife and Humans at the Wildlife-Human Interface around Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
Claire Mack Mugasa,
Bernadette Basuta Mirembe,
Sylvester Ochwo,
Joseph Nkamwesiga,
Christian Ndekezi,
Tobias Tusabe,
Abubakar Musoba,
Clovice Kankya
Affiliations
Claire Mack Mugasa
Department of Biotechnical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Bernadette Basuta Mirembe
Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Sylvester Ochwo
Molecular Biology Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Joseph Nkamwesiga
Molecular Biology Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Christian Ndekezi
Molecular Biology Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Tobias Tusabe
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara P.O. Box 1410, Uganda
Abubakar Musoba
Molecular Biology Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Clovice Kankya
Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
To date, information on Cryptosporidium spp. infection status among people and wild animals living at the wildlife-human interface such as Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) is scarce. The aim of this study is to document the molecular detection of Cryptosporidium spp. in wild animals, and people, around QENP in the Kasese District. A total of 308 patients from four health centres and 252 wildlife animals from six species across 13 sampling areas were analysed microscopically and with PCR for Cryptosporidium spp. detection. The parasitological and molecular prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in humans was 40% and 53%, respectively; Kasenyi Health Centre recorded the highest percentage of positive stool samples for both tests. Wildlife species had an overall molecular percentage positivity of 30.16%; however, considering individual animal species that were sampled, the Waterbucks had the highest positivity rate, that is, 54.54%. All the samples were confirmed as genus Cryptosporidium with less species discrimination as our PCR target was a short fragment. There is a need to investigate the risk factors that predispose to high Cryptosporidium infection in the study area, especially in Kasenyi. In-depth investigation of the genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. circulating at the human, livestock, and wildlife interface is imperative in devising disease management strategies.
