TY - JOUR T1 - Detection and Identification of Cryptosporidium species in Water Samples from a River in Ardabil City, Northwestern Iran AU - , Behnam Mohammadi Ghalebin AU - , Esmaeel Fallah AU - , Mohammad Asgharzadh AU - , Abdol Hassan Kazemi AU - , Mohsen Arzanlou JO - Research Journal of Biological Sciences VL - 2 IS - 4 SP - 498 EP - 502 PY - 2007 DA - 2001/08/19 SN - 1815-8846 DO - rjbsci.2007.498.502 UR - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=rjbsci.2007.498.502 KW - Cryptosporidium species KW -PCR-RFLP KW -water KW -detection KW -indentification KW -Iran AB - Cryptosporidium is an opportunistic parasite typically associated with large waterborne outbreaks. Surface waters contaminated with human and animal feces serve as main source for epidemic spread of Cryptosporidium parasites. In this study, we used a small-subunit rRNA-based PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) technique to determine the prevalence and to characterize human-infective species of Cryptosporidium parasites in water samples collected from a stream in Ardabil city in Iran. Among 30 samples examined, 11 samples showed positive results. Restriction pattern analysis showed C. andersony as the most common species with 7 cases; followed by C. parvum, bovine genotype, with 3 cases and C. suis with 1 case. The results indicated that PCR-RFLP technique provides an applicable and feasible method for detection and identification of Cryptosporidium oocysts in environmental water samples. The results, furthermore, demonstrated that wildlife is the major source of Cryptosporidium oocysts in surface water resources in the study region. ER -