Cryptosporidium andersoni n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporiidae) from Cattle, Bos taurus

Abstract

A new species of Cryptosporidium is described from the feces of domestic cattle, Bos taurus. Oocysts are structurally similar to those of Cryptosporidium muris described from mice but are larger than those of Cryptosporidium parvum. Oocysts of the new species are ellipsoidal, lack sporocysts, and measure 7.4 x 5.5 microm (range, 6.0-8.1 by 5.0-6.5 microm). The length to width ratio is 1.35 (range, 1.07-1.50). The colorless oocyst wall is < 1 microm thick, lacks a micropyle, and possesses a longitudinal suture at one pole. A polar granule is absent, whereas an oocyst residuum is present. Oocysts were passed fully sporulated and are not infectious to outbred, inbred immunocompetent or immunodeficient mice, chickens or goats. Recent molecular analyses of the rDNA 18S and ITS1 regions and heat-shock protein 70 (HSP-70) genes demonstrate this species to be distinct from C. muris infecting rodents. Based on transmission studies and molecular data, we consider the large form of Cryptosporidium infecting the abomasum of cattle to be a new species and have proposed the name Cryptosporidium andersoni n. sp. for this parasite.

Natural Infection of Cryptosporidium muris (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporiidae) in Siberian Chipmunks

“…These parasites most commonly attack the digestive tract, though other organ systems may be affected, especially in birds. Although most species predominantly infect the intestine, there is a distinct group of gastric cryptosporidia consisting of C. muris in rodents (Tyzzer, 1907(Tyzzer, , 1910, C. serpentis in reptiles (Levine, 1980), C. (muris) andersoni in ruminants (Lindsay et al, 2000), C. galli in birds (Pavlásek, 1999;Morgan et al, 2001). Cryptosporidium muris was described by Tyzzer in 1907 in gastric glands of mice and was later found in other rodents (Iseki, 1986;Pavlá sek and Lávicka, 1995;Chalmers et al, 1997;Torres et al, 2000) and a rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) (Anderson, 1991).…”

Prevalence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium andersoni and their effects on performance in feedlot beef cattle

“…Cyptosporidium andersoni, formally known as C. muris, chronically infects the abomasum of older calves and mature cattle (Anderson 1987(Anderson , 1990(Anderson , 1991Bukhari et al 1996;Fayer et al 1997;Lindsay et al 2000). Cyptosporidium andersoni has been reported to reduce milk production in dairy cows by approximately 3.2 kg d -1 and to reduce weight gains in some feedlot steers by 10-50% (Anderson 1990;Estaban et al 1995).…”

Prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in ruminants of Lorestan province, Iran

“…Then, the slides were soaked in a jar containing malachite green solution for 20 s, washed, dried and examined for presence of the oocysts under light microscopy. Cryptosporidium oocysts were identified according to morphological criteria (Lindsay et al 2000;Fayer and Xiao 2008).…”