Molecular Detection of Colpodella sp. Using Cryptosporidium Primers in Faecal Samples of Small Ruminants in FCT and Plateau State, Nigeria

Cryptosporidium is a major waterborne pathogen causing diarrhea. Genetic analysis helps identify Cryptosporidium species. While PCR is used for this, it can also amplify Colpodella, another apicomplexan which may be of pathogenic and public health importance. An initial 74 fresh faecal samples that were originally positive for Cryptosporidium by microscopy from sheep (152) and goats (224) in FCT and Plateau state, Nigeria were used. DNA was extracted from these 74 samples and analysed using a two-step PCR process molecular technique targeting 18s rRNA gene. The amplified DNA was sequenced in both directions and compared it to known sequences in a database. Twenty (14 sheep and 6 goats) of the 74 samples were positive for Cryptosporidium on gel electrophoresis. Further molecular analysis using genetic analysis revealed that 6 out of 20 were positive for Colpodella, which were then sequenced and deposited in the GenBank. This unexpected finding was in 4 sheep and 2 goats that presented with diarrhea. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that molecular identification of Colpodella is reported in Nigeria. However, phylogenetic analysis of this Nigerian Isolate was closely related to those from China, Cyprus and Mozambique from the GenBank. Further research is needed to understand the role of Colpodella in animal and human health