Abstract
Cattle are an important source of zoonotic species of Cryptosporidium for humans. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Cryptosporidium, identify the species and determine the risk factors relating to environment, animals and management among dairy calves in eight Brazilian states. A total of 408 fecal samples from calves aged 1-60 days were analyzed. An epidemiological questionnaire was completed. Sample screening was performed using Ziehl-Neelsen technique and the positive samples were subjected to nested PCR. Cryptosporidium species were identified by means of the PCR-RFLP technique, using SSPI, ASEI and MBOII enzymes. The Ziehl-Neelsen technique showed that 89.7% (35/39) of the farms and 52.9% (216/408) of the samples were positive. Through nested PCR, these protozoa were detected in 54.6% of the samples. The 56 samples subjected to PCR-RFLP presented Cryptosporidium parvum. There was higher prevalence of the parasite in animals aged 7 to 28 days (62.6%). Diarrhea, ages between seven and 28 days and a spring water source were factors associated with the risk of infection. The calf hutch-type management system was associated with reduced infection. These findings demonstrate the high level of Cryptosporidium spp. circulation in cattle herds and the predominance of the species C. parvum.
Highlights
Cryptosporidium spp. are the causative agents of cryptosporidiosis, an important zoonosis that affects both humans and animals, with worldwide distribution (Chalmers & Davies, 2010)
40 species of Cryptosporidium are known and about 20 of them have been reported in humans, among which Cryptosporidium hominis and Cryptosporidium parvum are responsible for most infections (Ryan et al, 2014; Khan et al, 2018; Ryan et al, 2018)
Among the samples that were found to be positive through screening with the Ziehl-Neelsen technique, molecular analysis was done using Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (nPCR) and 54.6% (118/216) of them presented Cryptosporidium DNA (Figure 1)
Summary
Cryptosporidium spp. are the causative agents of cryptosporidiosis, an important zoonosis that affects both humans and animals, with worldwide distribution (Chalmers & Davies, 2010). Their oocysts are highly resistant to environmental conditions and disinfectants, including chlorine and most compounds used for water treatment (Duhain et al, 2012). Several species of Cryptosporidium have been found verified in cattle, but C. parvum, Cryptosporidium andersoni, Cryptosporidium bovis and Cryptosporidium ryanae have been most frequently identified. Cattle are important reservoirs for these parasites, contributing to environmental contamination and can host the zoonotic species C. parvum (Xiao, 2010; Holsback et al, 2018)
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Schedule a callMore From: Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria
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