Molecular detection of Cryptosporidium in Alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster) in Gansu Province, Northwest China

Abstract

Cryptosporidium spp. are protozoa commonly found in domestic and wild animals. Limited information is available on Cryptosporidium in deer worldwide. In this study, 201 fecal samples were collected from alpine musk deer on three farms in Gansu Province. The detection and subtyping of Cryptosporidium were carried out by nested PCR with the SSU rRNA gene and the gp60 gene. Prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in alpine musk deer was 3.9% (8/201), with infection rates of 2.8% (1/36), 9.2% (6/65), and 1.0% (1/100) in three different farms. Both Cryptosporidium species, C. parvum (n = 2) and C. xiaoi (n = 6), were detected in all samples. Of the two C. parvum isolates, two were subtyped as IIdA15G1, and of the six C. xiaoi isolates, two belonged to XXIIIa and four belonged to XXIIIg, respectively. The IIdA15G1 subtype of C. parvum was found in deer for the rst time. These ndings provide essential insights into the infection rate and genetic evolution of Cryptosporidium in alpine musk deer.