Abstract
BackgroundCryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis are important gastrointestinal protists in humans and animals worldwide. In China, bovine cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis are of increasing concern because cattle are important reservoirs of these parasites, which have become potential threats to public health and to large numbers of cattle in recent years.ResultsA total of 1366 fecal samples from the Ningxia Autonomous Region were examined. The overall infection rates for Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis were 1.61% and 2.12%, respectively. Cryptosporidium was only detected in preweaned calves and adults older than 2 years, whereas G. duodenalis was only detected in calves aged less than 11 months. Cryptosporidium spp. were characterized with a PCR–restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and DNA sequence analysis of the small subunit rRNA gene. Three Cryptosporidium species were identified: C. parvum (n = 15) and C. bovis (n = 4) in preweaned calves, and C. andersoni (n = 4) in adults aged over 2 years. A DNA sequence analysis of the gp60 gene suggested that the 15 C. parvum isolates all belonged to subtype IIdA15G1. Twenty-nine G. duodenalis isolates were analyzed by DNA sequencing of the triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) and glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) genes. Two G. duodenalis assemblages were identified, assemblages E (n = 15) and B (n = 4, one subtype B1 and three subtype B2) in preweaned calves, and assemblage E (n = 10) in 3–11-month-old calves.ConclusionsThe predominance of C. parvum detected in preweaned calves and the first identified subtype IIdA15G1 in dairy cattle, and the dominant G. duodenalis assemblage E in this study differed considerably from those found in Henan, Heilongjiang, and Shannxi Provinces. Our findings further confirm the dominance of C. parvum IId subtypes in China.
Highlights
Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis are important gastrointestinal protists in humans and animals worldwide
The infection rates of Cryptosporidium spp. were 10.22%, 0%, 0%, and 0.69% in preweaned, 3–11-month-old, 1–2-year-old, and > 2-yearold cattle, respectively (χ2 = 95.52, P
Distribution of Cryptosporidium species/subtypes and G. duodenalis assemblages The small subunit (SSU) rRNA genes of Cryptosporidium spp. in all 23 microscopy-positive samples were successfully amplified with nested PCR
Summary
Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis are important gastrointestinal protists in humans and animals worldwide. Cryptosporidium and Giardia are important gastrointestinal protists with a wide spectrum of hosts, including humans, livestock, companion animals, and wildlife. Cattle are mammalian species commonly infected with Cryptosporidium, and preweaned calves are considered the most important reservoir for zoonotic infections. Large numbers of studies have suggested that C. parvum, C. bovis, C. andersoni, and C. ryanae are the most common species infecting cattle, C. felis, C. hominis, C. suis, C. scrofarum (formerly pig genotype II), and C. suis-like genotype have been detected [3]. Cryptosporidium parvum is usually found in preweaned calves and is a significant cause of diarrhea. C. bovis and C. ryanae usually infect postweaned calves and yearlings, and C. bovis is detected more frequently than C. ryanae, neither is associated with diarrhea [4]. C. andersoni is commonly seen in adult cattle and is associated with gastritis, reduced milk yield, and poor weight gain [5]
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