Genotyping and subtyping of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis isolates from two wild rodent species in Gansu Province, China

Abstract

Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis are commonly detected intestinal protozoa species in humans and animals, contributing to global gastroenteritis spread. The present study examined the prevalence and zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis in Himalayan marmots and Alashan ground squirrels in China's Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau area (QTPA) for the first time. Four hundred ninety-eight intestinal content samples were collected from five counties of QTPA of Gansu province, China. All samples were examined for Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis by PCR amplification. The resultant data were statistically analyzed by chi-square, Fisher's test and Bonferroni correction using SPSS software 25. 0. Cryptosporidium positive samples were further subtyped through analysis of the 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene sequence. A total of 11 and 8 samples were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis, respectively. Prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis were 2.5% (10/399) and 1.5% (6/399) in Himalayan marmots, 1.0% (1/99) and 2.0% (2/99) in Alashan ground squirrels, respectively. Sequence analysis confirmed the presence of C. rubeyi (n = 2), ground squirrel genotype II (n = 7), chipmunk genotype V (n = 1) and horse genotype (n = 1). The horse genotype was further subtyped as novel subtype VIbA10. G. duodenalis zoonotic assemblages A (n = 1), B (n = 6), E (n = 1) were identified in the present study. This is the first study to identify Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis in Himalayan marmots and Alashan ground squirrels, suggesting the potential zoonotic transmission of the two pathogens in QTPA.

Mongolian pika (Ochotona pallasi) a important Cryptosporidium species vector at China-mongolia border of China

“…Previously, The positive rate of Cryptosporidium spp. were 2.5% (10/399) in Himalayan marmots, 1.0% (1/99) in Alashan ground squirrels [11], 1.4% (4/287) in Red-bellied tree squirrels [11], 2.1% (9/435) in Bamboo rats [12], 6.5% (11/168) in Brown rats [13], and 6.3% (4/64) in Plateau pikas [8], respectively.…”

Development of Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction with Novel Specific Primers for Detection of Tritrichomonas muris Infection in Laboratory Mice

“…The most dramatic illustration of this is the phenomenon of a mixed infection of intestinal protozoa that exists in the intestinal tracts of laboratory mice. Laboratory mice can be infected with G. duodenalis and Cryptosporidium, which can parasitize their intestinal tracts [59,60]. T. muris and P. hominis are two kinds of flagellate parasites that can parasitize the ceca of rats, mice, and hamsters and have similar morphological characteristics.…”

Role of rodents in the zoonotic transmission of giardiasis

“…Assemblage D ( n = 33) was only reported in chinchillas in one study in Romania [ 39 ]. Assemblage E ( n = 11) was reported in mice ( Pseudomys albocinereus ) in Australia [ 40 ], chinchillas ( Chinchilla lanigera ) in Romania [ 39 ], and Himalayan marmots ( Marmota himalayana ) and maras ( Dolichotis patagonum ) in China [ 41 , 42 ]. The mixed of assemblage C and F was identified in wild bush rats ( Rattus fuscipes ) in Australia [ 40 ].…”