Characteristics of Cryptosporidium Transmission in Preweaned Dairy Cattle in Henan, China

Abstract

To estimate the prevalence and public health significance of cryptosporidiosis in preweaned calves in China, 801 fecal samples from eight farms in seven areas in Henan Province were examined for Cryptosporidium oocysts. The overall infection rate of Cryptosporidium was 21.5%, with the farm in Xinxiang having the highest prevalence (40%). No significant difference in infection rates was observed between seasons. Cryptosporidium spp. were characterized by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene and DNA sequencing of the 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene. The SSU rRNA-based PCR identified four Cryptosporidium species, including Cryptosporidium parvum (54/172), C. bovis (65/172), C. ryanae (19/172), and C. andersoni (12/172), and the occurrence of infections with mixed species (22/172). The earliest detection of C. bovis was in calves of 1 week of age, showing that the prepatent period was shorter than the previously stated 10 to 12 days. Infections with C. parvum peaked in summer, whereas C. bovis dominated in autumn and winter. There was no apparent difference in the age of cattle infected with either C. parvum or C. bovis. Sequencing analysis of the gp60 gene showed all 67 C. parvum samples belonged to subtype IIdA19G1. These findings suggested that the transmission of Cryptosporidium spp. in preweaned calves in Henan, China, appeared to be different from other areas both at genotype and subtype levels. Further molecular epidemiologic studies (including samples from both calves and humans) are needed to elucidate the transmission dynamics and public significance of C. parvum in cattle in China.

Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. in pre-weaned calves in Shaanxi Province, north-western China

“…In the present study, C. bovis, C. andersoni and C. ryanae were observed in pre-weaned cattle in Shaanxi Province. C. bovis was the most prevalent species in this province, which is consistent with results from a study in Heilongjiang Province, north-eastern China (Zhang et al, 2013), but different from those from a study in Henan Province in which C. parvum was the predominant species in pre-weaned calves (Wang et al, 2011b). C. parvum, one of the most important Cryptosporidium species in regard to public health (Petry et al, 2010), is a common species in preweaned cattle around the world (Xiao, 2010;Murakoshi et al, 2012), including some provinces of China (Wang et al, 2011b;Zhang et al, 2013).…”

“…C. bovis type I (CBType I) was the only type found in this study and in Henan Province (Wang et al, 2011b). However, intra-species variations were observed for C. ryanae at the SSU rRNA locus.…”

“…ryanae-positive specimens and was reported in Heilongjiang and Henan provinces (Wang et al, 2011b;Zhang et al, 2013). CRTypes III (8.3 %, 1/12 samples) and IV (8.3 %, 1/12 samples), with one and two base variations compared with CRTypes I and II, respectively, have not been described previously (Table 4).…”

“…Such contamination may lead to food-or water-borne outbreaks (de Graaf et al, 1999;Glaberman et al, 2002;Zhang et al, 2013 in cattle of all age groups, and was the predominant species in post-weaned and adult dairy cattle in Henan Province (Wang et al, 2011a, b). C. parvum, C. bovis and C. ryanae were observed in pre-weaned dairy calves in Heilongjiang and Henan provinces (Wang et al, 2011b;Zhang et al, 2013). Cryptosporidium meleagridis, an important zoonotic species that inhabits birds, was also detected in pre-weaned dairy calves in Heilongjiang Province, north-eastern China (Zhang et al, 2013).…”

Cryptosporidiumspecies in humans and animals: current understanding and research needs

“…A small number of these studies subtyped C. parvum (Amer et al 2010;Imre et al 2011;Meireles et al 2011;Muhid et al 2011;Wang et al 2011a;Silva et al 2013), with C. parvum IId subtypes identified as the dominant C. parvum in China and Malaysia (Muhid et al 2011;Wang et al 2011a;Zhang et al 2013a) and both IIa and IId dominant in Egypt (Amer et al 2010;. Thus, the prevalence and consequently the potential for transmission of Cryptosporidium infecting dairy cattle differ in developing countries vs industrialized nations at both species and subtype levels.…”