Abstract
Cryptosporidiosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by Cryptosporidium spp., sometimes leading to severe diarrhea in humans and animals. In the present study, 311 parrots, belonging to four species, namely, Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus), Lovebirds (Agapornis sp.), Alexandrine parakeets (Psittacula eupatria), and Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus), from Beijing and Weifang cities, were examined for Cryptosporidium spp. infection. Blood samples of each bird were examined using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and fecal samples were examined by Sheather's sugar flotation technique. Prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection were 3.22% (10/311) and 0.64% (2/311) by ELISA and Sheather's sugar flotation technique, respectively. Seroprevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in different breeds varied from 0 to 15.39%. Sequencing analysis showed that both positive samples from fecal samples belonged to Cryptosporidium avian genotype V. This is the first report of Cryptosporidium avian genotype V in Budgerigars. The results of the present study provided foundation-data for prevention and control of cryptosporidiosis in pet birds in China.
Highlights
Cryptosporidiosis, caused by the enteric parasite pathogens Cryptosporidium spp., can lead to diarrheal illness in humans and animals including birds [1,2,3]
Infection with Cryptosporidium species such as C. meleagridis, C. baileyi, C. galli, C. parvum, avian genotype II, avian genotype III, and avian genotype V in parrots has been widely reported in Japan, Brazil, and Australia [6, 9, 10, 13,14,15,16,17]
Except a study on detection of avian genotypes III and avian genotype V in Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) in Henan province [19], no such information on Cryptosporidium prevalence and genetic diversity in other species of parrots is available in China
Summary
Cryptosporidiosis, caused by the enteric parasite pathogens Cryptosporidium spp., can lead to diarrheal illness in humans and animals including birds [1,2,3]. Since Tyzzer [4] firstly observed the Cryptosporidium infection in birds, this pathogen has been detected in more than 30 avian species worldwide [5]. Infection with Cryptosporidium species such as C. meleagridis, C. baileyi, C. galli, C. parvum, avian genotype II, avian genotype III, and avian genotype V in parrots has been widely reported in Japan, Brazil, and Australia [6, 9, 10, 13,14,15,16,17]. Except a study on detection of avian genotypes III and avian genotype V in Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) in Henan province [19], no such information on Cryptosporidium prevalence and genetic diversity in other species of parrots is available in China. The aims of the present study were to examine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection and identify Cryptosporidium spp. in Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus), Lovebirds (Agapornis sp.), Alexandrine parakeets (Psittacula eupatria), and Cockatiel in north China
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