Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. from fecal samples of birds kept in captivity in Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium species and genotypes in birds kept in captivity in Brazil. A total of 966 samples from 18 families of birds was collected and stored in 5% potassium dichromate solution at 4 degrees C until processing. Oocysts were purified in Sheather sugar solution following extraction of genomic DNA. Molecular analyses were performed using nested-PCR for amplification of fragments of the 18S subunit of rRNA gene and of the actin gene. Amplification of Cryptosporidium DNA fragments was obtained in 47 (4.86%) samples. Sequencing of amplified fragments and phylogenetic analyses allowed the identification of Cryptosporidium baileyi in a black vulture (Coragyps atratus), a domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) and a saffron finch (Sicalis flaveola); Cryptosporidium galli in canaries (Serinus canaria), a cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) and lesser seed-finches (Oryzoborus angolensis); Cryptosporidium meleagridis in a domestic chicken (G. g. domesticus); Cryptosporidium parvum in a cockatiel (N. hollandicus); Cryptosporidium avian genotype I in a canary (S. canaria) and an Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus); Cryptosporidium avian genotype II in ostriches (Struthio camelus) and Cryptosporidium avian genotype III in a cockatiel (N. hollandicus) and a peach-faced lovebird (Agapornis roseicolis).

The first study of molecular prevalence and species characterization of Cryptosporidium in free-range chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) from Brazil

“…In a previous study by Nakamura et al (2009), C. meleagridis was found in one sample of a domestic chicken in Brazil. Previous studies performed outside Brazil affirm that infections by C. baileyi, C. galli and other parasite genotypes are present in several avian cases.…”

“…Here, the 18S rRNA n-PCR reactions were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. in 91 (25.9%) of 351 fecal samples There are few reports of Cryptosporidium molecular characterization from chickens in Brazil (HUBER et al, 2007;NAKAMURA et al, 2009) and worldwide (HSU et al, 2008;NG et al, 2006;SILVERLÅS et al, 2012;WANG et al, 2014), however, none of the previously studies reported studies worked with free-range chickens. In Brazil, Huber et al (2007) and Nakamura et al (2009) worked with chickens from indoor public markets and chickens under captivity, respectively.…”

Detection and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. in captive canaries (Serinus canaria) using different diagnostic methods

“…In Brazil, C. avium, C. baileyi, C. meleagridis, C. parvum, the avian genotypes I, II and III and the duck genotype were reported to occur in fecal samples of domestic and wild birds (MEIRELES & FIGUEIREDO, 1992;SANTOS et al, 2005;MEIRELES et al, 2006;HUBER et al, 2007;NAKAMURA et al, 2009NAKAMURA et al, , 2014SEVÁ et al, 2011;NARDI, 2015;CUNHA et al, 2017).…”

“…In canaries (Serinus canaria), C. galli, C. avium and C. avian genotypes I and III infections have been described (NG et al, 2006;ANTUNES et al, 2008;NAKAMURA et al, 2009NAKAMURA et al, , 2014NARDI, 2015). Most epidemiological studies on avian cryptosporidiosis were performed using convenience sampling with fecal samples from several bird species (NG et al, 2006;NAKAMURA et al, 2009, SEVÁ et al, 2011BAMAIYI et al, 2013;REBOREDO-FERNÁNDEZ et al, 2015).…”

“…Most epidemiological studies on avian cryptosporidiosis were performed using convenience sampling with fecal samples from several bird species (NG et al, 2006;NAKAMURA et al, 2009, SEVÁ et al, 2011BAMAIYI et al, 2013;REBOREDO-FERNÁNDEZ et al, 2015).…”