Zoonotic Cryptosporidium species and subtypes in lambs and goat kids in Algeria

Abstract

BackgroundLittle is known on the occurrence and identity of Cryptosporidium species in sheep and goats in Algeria. This study aimed at investigating the occurrence of Cryptosporidium species in lambs and goat kids younger than 4 weeks.MethodsA total of 154 fecal samples (62 from lambs and 92 from kid goats) were collected from 13 sheep flocks in Médea, Algeria and 18 goat flocks across Algiers and Boumerdes. They were screened for Cryptosporidium spp. by nested-PCR analysis of a fragment of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequence analyses to determine the Cryptosporidium species present. Cryptosporidium parvum and C. ubiquitum were further subtyped by sequence analysis of the 60 kDa glycoprotein gene.ResultsCryptosporidium spp. were detected in 17 fecal samples (11.0%): 9 from lambs (14.5%) and 8 from goat kids (8.7%). The species identified included C. parvum in 3 lambs, C. xiaoi in 6 lambs and 6 goat kids, and C. ubiquitum in 2 goat kids. Cryptosporidium infections were detected mostly in animals during the first two weeks of life (7/8 for goat kids and 7/9 for lambs) and in association with diarrhea occurrence (7/17 or 41.2% goat kids and 7/10 or 70.0% lambs with diarrhea were positive for Cryptosporidium spp.). Subtyping of C. parvum and C. ubiquitum isolates identified the zoonotic IIaA13G2R1 and XIIa subtype families, respectively. Minor differences in the SSU rRNA gene sequences were observed between C. xiaoi from sheep and goats.ConclusionsResults of this study indicate that three Cryptosporidium species occur in lambs and goat kids in Algeria, including zoonotic C. parvum and C. ubiquitum. They are associated with the occurrence of neonatal diarrhea.

Molecular detection of genotypes and subtypes of Cryptosporidium infection in diarrheic calves, lambs, and goat kids from Turkey

“…Moreover, IIaA13G2R1 was found the most common subtype in pre-weaned diarrheic calves in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey [21]. This uncommon zoonotic subtype was also reported in Algerian young calves, lambs, and goat kids [41,42]. Moreover, there are only a few reports of this uncommon subtype in a small number of calves in Belgium, Canada, and the Netherlands [37,43,44].…”

Prevalence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in young livestock and dogs in Magude District of Maputo Province, Mozambique

“…Protozoan species from the genus Giardia and Cryptosporidium are known to infect domestic and wild animals (Taylor, Coop & Wall 2007) and are implicated as causative agents of diarrhoea in children, and as opportunistic infections in HIV-positive patients (Fayer, Morgan & Upton 2000; Irisarri-Gutiérrez et al 2017; Morgan et al 2000; Pedersen et al 2014; Sow et al 2016; Wang et al 2018). In domestic animals, the parasites are mainly prevalent in neonates and young animals (Baroudi et al 2018; De Waal 2012; Hamnes et al 2006) with consequent economic loss because of different levels of morbidity and mortality (De Graaf et al 1999) particularly when they occur in concomitant infections with helminthic infections (Taylor et al 2007). There has been a description of two subtypes of Cryptosporidium parvum (Baroudi et al 2018; Fayer et al 2000; Santana et al 2018; Squire et al 2017) and multiple genotypes within the species Giardia duodenalis (Ebner et al 2015; Feng & Xiao 2011; Itagaki et al 2005; Santín, Trout & Fayer 2007; Sommer et al 2018), and only a few are of zoonotic significance.…”

“…In domestic animals, the parasites are mainly prevalent in neonates and young animals (Baroudi et al 2018; De Waal 2012; Hamnes et al 2006) with consequent economic loss because of different levels of morbidity and mortality (De Graaf et al 1999) particularly when they occur in concomitant infections with helminthic infections (Taylor et al 2007). There has been a description of two subtypes of Cryptosporidium parvum (Baroudi et al 2018; Fayer et al 2000; Santana et al 2018; Squire et al 2017) and multiple genotypes within the species Giardia duodenalis (Ebner et al 2015; Feng & Xiao 2011; Itagaki et al 2005; Santín, Trout & Fayer 2007; Sommer et al 2018), and only a few are of zoonotic significance.…”

Prevalence and Characterization of Cryptosporidium Species and Genotypes in Four Farmed Deer Species in the Northeast of China

“…Cryptosporidium ubiquitum is also one of the most common Cryptosporidium species in drinking water in China (30). In this study, four C. ubiquitum isolates were identified as zoonotic XIIa subtype, which were identified in domestic and wild ruminants, rodents, humans, and water samples (5,(30)(31)(32).…”