Isolates of Cryptosporidium muris and C. serpentis were characterized from different hosts using nucleotide sequence
analysis of the rDNA 18S and ITS1 regions, and the heat-shock (HSP-70) gene. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed
preliminary evidence that C. muris is not a uniform species. Two distinct genotypes were identified within C. muris; (1)
C. muris genotype A; comprising bovine and camel isolates of C. muris from different geographical locations, and (2) C.
muris genotype B comprising C. muris isolates from mice, a hamster, a rock hyrax and a camel from the same enclosure.
These 2 genotypes may represent separate species but further biological and molecular studies are required for
confirmation.
