Abstract
Cryptosporidium is an enteric apicomplexan parasite, which can infect multiple mammals including livestock and wildlife. Tibetan Antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii) is one of the most famous wildlife species, that belongs to the first class protected wild animals in China. However, it has not been known whether Tibetan Antelope is infected with Cryptosporidium so far. The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence and characterization of Cryptosporidium species infection in Tibetan Antelope and the corresponding species by using molecular biological method. In the current study, a total of 627 fecal samples were randomly collected from Tibetan Antelope in the Tibet Autonomous Region (2019–2020), and were examined by PCR amplification of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. Among 627 samples, 19 (3.03%, 19/627) were examined as Cryptosporidium-positive, with 7 (2.33%, 7/300) in females and 12 (3.67%, 12/327) in males. The analysis of SSU rRNA gene sequence suggested that only two Cryptosporidium species, namely, C. xiaoi and C. ubiquitum, were identified in this study. This is the first evidence for an existence of Cryptosporidium in Tibetan Antelope. These findings extend the host range for Cryptosporidium spp. and also provide important data support for prevention and control of Cryptosporidium infection in Tibetan Antelope.
Highlights
Cryptosporidium, the causative agent of cryptosporidiosis, causes an intestinal disease in a wide range of hosts worldwide, including wildlife, livestock, and humans
19 (3.0%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7–4.4) out of 627 Tibetan Antelope fecal samples from Tibet Autonomous Region were tested as Cryptosporidium-positive by PCR amplification of the SSU rRNA gene
The prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in Tibetan Antelope was 2.2% (7/322, 95% CI 0.6– 3.8) in 2019, and 3.9% (12/305, 95% CI 0.6–3.8) in 2020 (Table 1)
Summary
Cryptosporidium, the causative agent of cryptosporidiosis, causes an intestinal disease in a wide range of hosts worldwide, including wildlife, livestock, and humans. Human infection with Cryptosporidium is usually through a close contact with the infected animals or consuming contaminated water or food (Rossignol, 2010). At least 38 species and over 70 genotypes of Cryptosporidium can infect humans and animals (Deng et al, 2020). More than 20 have been considered as zoonotic potential risks, including C. hominis, C. parvum, C. meleagridis, C. felis, C. canis, C. cuniculus, C. ubiquitum, C. viatorum, C. muris, C. suis, C. fayeri, C. andersoni, Cryptosporidium in Tibetan Antelope. C. xiaoi was generally considered as C. bovis-like genotype or C. bovis when Fayer and Santıń identified it as a new species in 2009 based on morphology and molecular methods (Fayer and Santıń , 2009)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
