Cryptosporidium Species of Dairy Cattle in the North Kazakhstan Region

Abstract

Cryptosporidiosis is a zoonotic disease of farm livestock and humans which causes diarrhea and great economic disbenefit. This work aimed to identify Cryptosporidium species in the dairy cattle farm where the disease was noted in the North Kazakhstan Region. Freshly selected excrements specimens from 22 calves up to one month of age and 20 young animals up to one year old were examined by Heine (1982) for the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts, as well as for detecting C.parvum with the Fassisi Fa Bodia immunochromatography test. In two samples from young cattle, in which oocysts were microscopically detected, but the presence of C.parvum was not confirmed, the Cryptosporidium species was determined using the molecular biological methods. DNA was extracted using the QIAamp Stool Kit. DNA quality was monitored by electrophoresis. DNA quantification analysis was performed on the NanoDrop 2000 spectrophotometer. The PCR program was performed on the Mastercycler Gradient amplifier. PCR products were purified using the Quick PCR Purification Kit. An analysis of nucleotide sequences was performed using the Finch TV v1.3.1. software and BLAST. As a result, oocysts revealed in 68% of calves, which gave a positive reaction to C.parvum. Cryptosporidium oocysts were found in 10% of young animals which samples showed a negative result for the presence of C.parvum antigens. However, in them the C.andersoni species DNA was identified. Thus, in the north of Kazakhstan, two zoonotic species of Cryptosporidium have been identified in cattle.