Molecular characterisation of Cryptosporidium spp. in lambs in the South Central region of the State of São Paulo

Abstract

Considering the proximity of sheep farmers to animals that are possibly diseased or releasing fecal oocysts into the environment and the marked pathogenicity in lambs, the aim of this study was to determine the occurrence and to molecularly characterize the infection by Cryptosporidium spp. in lambs in the South Central region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 193 fecal samples were collected from sheep of several breeds, males and females, aged up to one year. Polymerase chain reaction (nested-PCR) was used to amplify DNA fragments from the subunit 18S rRNA gene and indicated 15% positivity; sequencing of amplified fragments was possible for 19 samples. Analysis of the obtained sequences showed that the identified species were Cryptosporidium xiaoi for 15 samples, constituting thus the first molecular characterization study of this Cryptosporidium species in Brazil. Cryptosporidium ubiquitum was identified for three samples and Cryptosporidium meleagridis for one sample; the latter two are considered zoonotic species.

Occurrence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium sp. in sheep

“…Previously, it was known as C. bovis-like and was found in sheep in the United States (SANTÍN et al, 2007), Spain (NAVARRO-I-MARTINEZ et al, 2007), Tunisia CHALMERS, 2008), United Kingdom (MUELLER-DOBLIES et al, 2008), China (WANG et al, 2010;YE et al, 2013), Norway (ROBERTSON et al, 2010), Australia (SWEENY et al, 2011), andEgypt (MAHFOUZ et al, 2014). In Brazil, the first report of this parasite in sheep was recorded in São Paulo in 2015, where it was found infecting 5-to 360-day-old sheep (ZUCATTO et al, 2015). In this study, the protozoa were found in adult sheep of approximately 3 years of age.…”

“…It was detected in sheep in Australia (SWEENY et al, 2011;RYAN et al, 2005;YANG et al, 2009), United States (SANTÍN;FAYER, 2007;SANTIN et al, 2007), Belgium (GEURDEN et al, 2008), China (WANG et al, 2010), Spain (DIAZ et al, 2010), Norway (ROBERTSON et al, 2010), UK (ELWIN;CHALMERS, 2008;MUELLER-DOBLIES et al, 2008), and other countries. In Brazil, this species of Cryptosporidium has been detected by Fiuza et al (2011) in the State of Rio de Janeiro and by Silva et al (2014) and Zucatto et al (2015) in São Paulo. Zucatto et al (2015) found this species in 5-to 180-day-old sheep, however in this study it was found in a sheep approximately 2.5 years old.…”

“…In Brazil, this species of Cryptosporidium has been detected by Fiuza et al (2011) in the State of Rio de Janeiro and by Silva et al (2014) and Zucatto et al (2015) in São Paulo. Zucatto et al (2015) found this species in 5-to 180-day-old sheep, however in this study it was found in a sheep approximately 2.5 years old.…”

“…Out of the 84 positive samples, 60.71% showed pasty consistency. Causapé et al (2002), Zucatto et al (2015) also found a higher percentage of Cryptosporidium in pasty feces of sheep.…”

Occurrence of Cryptosporidium and Helminthosis in Santa Ines Sheep under Dry and Rainy Season

“…Similar prevalence values were observed in previous studies, as in Paz e Silva et al (2014) Cryptosporidium spp. is a parasite that may infect humans, therefore an important international public health matter (Zucatto et al, 2015). In a previous research developed in Poland with 159 sheep, 16 animals were found parasitized by oocysts of Cryptosporidium using the Ziehl-Neelsen modified method (Majewska et al, 2000).…”