Identification of Cryptosporidiumspecies and genotypes in dairy cattle in Brazil

Flavio Medeiros Paz E Silva,Raimundo Souza Lopes,João Pessoa Araújo-Junior

doi:10.1590/s1984-29612013005000010

Flavio Medeiros Paz E Silva, Raimundo Souza Lopes + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1984-29612013005000010

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Abstract

In this study, we identified Cryptosporidium species and genotypes present in dairy cattle in the central region of São Paulo state, Brazil. Fecal specimens were collected from 200 animals (100 calves and 100 cows) in ten dairy farms. Fecal samples were examined using microscopic examination (ME), enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Cryptosporidium species and genotypes were determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) or DNA sequencing analysis of the SSU-rRNA and GP60 genes. The occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. infection was 14% (28/200). The occurrence in calves (26%) was significantly higher than in cows (2%). Of the 27 Cryptosporidium-positive specimens submitted to genotyping, C. andersoni was identified in 23 (85.1%), C. bovis in three (11.1%), and the zoonotic C. parvum subtype IIaA15G2R1 in one (3.7%). The study demonstrates that Cryptosporidium spp. infection was common and widespread in dairy cattle in this region and that calves have a high prevalence of C. andersoni. Furthermore, the presence of C. parvum subtype IIaA15G2R1 indicates that dairy calves from this region should be considered a potential source of zoonotic Cryptosporidium oocysts.

Highlights

Cryptosporidium is an apicomplexan parasite that infects the microvillus border of the gastrointestinal epithelium of a wide range of vertebrate hosts, including humans and cattle
The study demonstrates that Cryptosporidium spp. infection was common and widespread in dairy cattle in this region and that calves have a high prevalence of C. andersoni
In epidemiological surveys in USA, Hungary, Germany, Ireland, Iran and Spain, the average prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in young calves ranged from 18.8% to 57.8% (SANTÍN et al, 2004; THOMPSON et al, 2007; BROGLIA et al, 2008; QUILEZ et al, 2008; KESHAVARZ et al, 2009) and the prevalence in adult cattle in Spain, Portugal and the USA ranged from 4.5% to 8.4% (FAYER et al, 2006; CASTRO-HERMIDA et al, 2007; MENDONÇA et al, 2007)

Summary

Introduction

Cryptosporidium is an apicomplexan parasite that infects the microvillus border of the gastrointestinal epithelium of a wide range of vertebrate hosts, including humans and cattle. The species C. parvum infects the intestine of neonatal and pre-weaned calves (0-2 months old) and shows high infection rates in dairy herds (COKLIN et al, 2007; SANTÍN et al, 2008). Infections with C. bovis are common among post-weaned dairy calves (2-11 months-old) in many geographical regions (SANTÍN et al, 2004; FENG et al, 2007; FELTUS et al, 2008). Despite the abundant prevalence information for Cryptosporidium around the world, there is little information on the Cryptosporidium species and genotypes present in infected cattle in Brazil. This study was undertaken to determine the occurrence and characterize the species of Cryptosporidium present in dairy cattle in south-central São Paulo state, Brazil

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