Molecular Identification of Cryptosporidium Species from Pet Snakes in Thailand

Abstract

Cryptosporidium is an important pathogen causing gastrointestinal disease in snakes and is distributed worldwide. The main objectives of this study were to detect and identify Cryptosporidium species in captive snakes from exotic pet shops and snake farms in Thailand. In total, 165 fecal samples were examined from 8 snake species, boa constrictor (Boa constrictor constrictor), corn snake (Elaphe guttata), ball python (Python regius), milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum), king snake (Lampropeltis getula), rock python (Python sebae), rainbow boa (Epicrates cenchria), and carpet python (Morelia spilota). Cryptosporidium oocysts were examined using the dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-modified acid-fast staining and a molecular method based on nested-PCR, PCR-RFLP analysis, and sequencing amplification of the SSU rRNA gene. DMSO-modified acid-fast staining revealed the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in 12 out of 165 (7.3%) samples, whereas PCR produced positive results in 40 (24.2%) samples. Molecular characterization indicated the presence of Cryptosporidium parvum (mouse genotype) as the most common species in 24 samples (60%) from 5 species of snake followed by Cryptosporidium serpentis in 9 samples (22.5%) from 2 species of snake and Cryptosporidium muris in 3 samples (7.5%) from P. regius.

The first genetic assessment of wild and farmed ball pythons (Reptilia, Serpentes, Pythonidae) in southern Togo

“…In particular, ball pythons are known to harbour a number of infectious diseases (e.g., cryptosporidium, Yimming et al 2016;nidoviruses, Uccellini et al 2014) and parasites [including ticks (e.g., Amblyomma latum, Corn et al 2011)]. For a recent review of the scientific literature (published between 2009 and 2019), which identified a list of nearly 150 underlying pathogens associated with this species, please see Green et al (2020).…”

Avaliação parasitológica de serpentes das famílias Boidae, Elapidae, Pythonidae e Viperidae no sul do Brasil

“…Ainda são poucos os dados relativos aos parasitos encontrados em serpentes provenientes de cativeiro (SIQUEIRA et al, 2009). A alimentação, muitas vezes realizada com roedores vivos, pode servir como carreadora de diversos parasitos zoonóticos, como Hymenolepis nana e Cryptosporidium parvum (RADHAKRISHNAN et al, 2009;YIMMING et al, 2016).…”

Molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis of Cryptosporidium, Hepatozoon and Spirometra in snakes from central China

“…More than 3600 tons of snakes were consumed annually in a single Chinese city, Guangzhou (Wang et al, 2011, 2014a). Snakes have been confirmed worldwide as hosts of parasites and several neglected foodborne zoonoses (Tang et al, 2017; Tomé et al, 2012; Yimming et al, 2016). Snakes represent a very diverse group of vertebrates in China, with more than 200 species found (Zhou and Jiang, 2005).…”

“…C. saurophilum ) have been confirmed in snakes. Cryptosporidium varanii infection is subclinical in snakes, while C. serpentis infection presents with anorexia, weight loss, food regurgitation, and mid-body swelling, and may bring devastating economic losses to the snake farming industry (Paiva et al, 2013; Yimming et al, 2016).…”

“…Differentiation among species of Hepatozoon gamonts present within blood cells, or species of Cryptosporidium oocysts in the intestines of snakes is extremely difficult because of high morphological similarity within a genus. (Han et al, 2015; Yimming et al, 2016). Even with good training, species identification by morphology is likely extremely difficult, and often not possible.…”