Cryptosporidium Prevalence in Calves and Geese Co-Grazing on Four Livestock Farms Surrounding Two Reservoirs Supplying Public Water to Mainland Orkney, Scotland

Abstract

The parasite Cryptosporidium parvum represents a threat to livestock health and production, water quality and public health. Cattle are known to be significant reservoirs of C. parvum, but transmission routes are complex and recent studies have implicated the potential role of wildlife in parasite transmission to cattle and water sources. On the Orkney Isles, high densities of Greylag geese (Anser anser) cause widespread faecal contamination of cattle pastures, where cryptosporidiosis is known to be the main cause of neonatal calf diarrhoea and Cryptosporidium contamination frequently occurs in two reservoirs supplying Mainland Orkney’s public water. This study aimed to determine the Cryptosporidium species and subtypes present in geese and calves co-grazing on four farms surrounding two reservoirs on Mainland Orkney. Results indicated a high level of C. parvum prevalence in calves, geese and water samples. gp60 analysis illustrated that higher genotypic diversity was present in the goose population compared with calves, but did not yield sequence results for any of the water samples. It can be concluded that the high levels of C. parvum evident in calves, geese and water samples tested represents a significant risk to water quality and public health.

Migrating Anatidae as Sources of Environmental Contamination with Zoonotic Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora and Microsporidia

“…Members of the family Anatidae can act as long-distance vectors for a wide range of different pathogens [ 30 , 31 ]. Free-ranging ducks, geese, and swans not only harbour human-infectious enteropathogens in their faeces, but can also be a source of infection for farm animals living in the same area [ 32 ]. The presence of waterbirds in spring water reservoirs has been linked to the declining quality of these waters [ 33 ].…”

“…In total, there were 213 Cryptosporidium -positive samples out of 2350 samples collected from wild Anatidae birds worldwide ( Table 1 ). There were three zoonotic Cryptosporidium species detected: C. parvum in most waterbird species such as Canada goose ( Branta canadensis ), mallard, taiga goose ( Anser fabalis ), mute swan, lesser merganser, whooper swan ( Cygnus cygnus ), and greylag goose; C. hominis and C. meleagridis in one Canada goose and one greylag goose species each [ 19 , 32 , 43 , 49 , 54 ]. Two human pathogenic genotypes of C. meleagridis (IIIgA22G3R1) and C. parvum ( C. parvum genotype 2) were also found in greylag geese and Canada geese, respectively [ 33 , 51 ] ( Table 1 ).…”

“…Two human pathogenic genotypes of C. meleagridis (IIIgA22G3R1) and C. parvum ( C. parvum genotype 2) were also found in greylag geese and Canada geese, respectively [ 33 , 51 ] ( Table 1 ). Other wild Anatidae also carried two potentially zoonotic Cryptosporidium species: ruddy shelduck ( Tadorna ferruginea ) and mallard were infected with C. baliyei , while C. andersoni was detected in whooper swan and greylag goose [ 32 , 42 , 55 , 56 ] ( Table 1 ). In addition, four avian subtypes were detected: Cryptosporidium goose genotype I and II in Canada goose and Whooper swan; avian genotype III ( C. proventriculi ) was detected in “migratory ducks” and Cryptosporidium duck genotype was found in Canada geese [ 32 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 ] ( Table 1 ).…”

Waterborne protozoan pathogens in environmental aquatic biofilms: Implications for water quality assessment strategies

“…The possible contributory factors for contamination of the sampling areas and the cycling of WBPP between humans and the environment can come from many sources (Table 1) including anthropogenic activities, communities with poor sanitary and living conditions, and improper domestic wastewater sanitization procedures (Adamska, 2014;Bhattachan et al, 2017;Masangkay et al, 2016). The presence of wildlife, domestic, and farm animals in the surroundings of lakes and other water reservoirs plays a significant role in parasite transmission to other animals and water sources thereby contributing to zoonotic transmission of Cryptosporidium and Giardia (Gil et al, 2017;Wells et al, 2019;Zahedi et al, 2016). In addition, birds, fish, amphibians, and small mammals have been tested and reported to be positive for Cryptosporidium and Giardia as well (Hublova et al, 2016;Karanis et al, 1996;Ryan, 2010;Yang et al, 2015).…”

Editorial for the Special Issue: Epidemiology, Transmission, Cell Biology and Pathogenicity of Cryptosporidium

“…The first surveys of this special issue focused on the epidemiology, genetic diversity and transmission of Cryptosporidium . Wells et al [ 1 ] reported data regarding the identification and prevalence of Cryptosporidium species and subtypes in calves and geese co-grazing on livestock farms surrounding reservoirs of water supplies intended for human consumption in Mainland Orkney (Scotland). The high prevalence of C. parvum found in calves, geese and water samples represented a significant risk to water quality and public health.…”