Molecular identification and antiprotozoal activity of silver nanoparticles on viability of Cryptosporidium parvum isolated from pigeons, pigeon fanciers and water

Abstract

Cryptosporidium is a protozoan that causes acute gastroenteritis, abdominal pain, and diarrhea in many vertebrate species, including humans, animals and birds. A number of studies have reported the occurrence of Cryptosporidium in domestic pigeons. Thus, this study aimed to identify Cryptosporidium spp. in samples collected from domestic pigeons, pigeon fanciers, and drinking water, as well as to investigate the antiprotozoal activity of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the viability of isolated Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum). Samples were collected from domestic pigeons (n = 150), pigeon fanciers (n = 50), and drinking water (n = 50) and examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. using microscopic and molecular techniques. The antiprotozoal activity of AgNPs was then assessed both in vitro and in vivo. Cryptosporidium spp. was identified in 16.4% of all examined samples, with C. parvum identified in 5.6%. The highest frequency of isolation was from domestic pigeon, rather than from pigeon fanciers or drinking water. In domestic pigeons, there was a significant association between Cryptosporidium spp. positivity and pigeon's age, droppings consistency, housing, hygienic and heath conditions. However, Cryptosporidium spp. positivity was only significantly associated with pigeon fanciers' gender and heath condition. The viability of C. parvum oocysts was reduced using AgNPs at various concentrations and storage times in a descending manner. In an in vitro study, the highest reduction in C. parvum count was observed at the AgNPs concentration of 1000 µg/mL after a 24 h contact time, followed by the AgNPs concentration of 500 µg/mL after a 24 h contact time. However, after a 48 h contact time, a complete reduction was observed at both 1000 and 500 µg/mL concentrations. Overall, the count and viability of C. parvum decreased with increasing the AgNPs concentration and contact times in both the in vitro and in vivo studies. Furthermore, the C. parvum oocyst destruction was time-dependent and increased with increasing the contact time at various AgNPs concentrations.

Application of Silver Nanoparticles in Parasite Treatment

“…It is also the most common cause of diarrhea in children worldwide [ 106 ] because younger children are more susceptible to Cryptosporidium infection [ 107 , 108 ]. Many birds, including chickens, geese, ducks, and pigeons, are known to be biological reservoirs of Cryptosporidium [ 109 ]. The protozoan can be transmitted to humans and animals mainly through the ingestion of contaminated food and drink or through contact with excreta.…”

“…Additionally, a significant decrease in C. parvum counts was observed after 3, 6, 12, and 24 h of storage for AgNP-treated control C. parvum oocysts at concentrations of 500 µg/mL and 1000 µg/mL, and no oocysts were detected after 48 h of storage for those that were AgNP-treated. The results of the in vivo infectivity test showed that for mice infected with AgNP-treated C. parvum oocysts, C. parvum oocyst counts were significantly lower than that in the control group and showed no infection for AgNPs of 1000 µg/mL for 48 h [ 109 ]. Similar results were obtained by Cameron, et al [ 12 ].…”

Cryptosporidium species diagnosis in handlers of domestic pigeons in Baghdad City: Molecular and microscopic approaches

“…Similarly, in Egypt, a study of handlers identified C . parvum in 6% (3/50) of pigeon handlers [19] . Notably, a study in Al-Kut and Al-Zahraa Teaching Hospital in Wasit province found a high prevalence, with 60% (48/80) of patients diagnosed with C .…”

The development rule of feathers and application of hair root tissue in sex identification of Yangzhou geese

“…Sex identification using the CHD gene was first proposed by Griffiths ( Griffiths, 1991 ). At present, this method has achieved early sex identification in chickens ( Ayers et al, 2015 ), ducks ( Li et al, 2015 ), pigeons ( Abou Elez et al, 2023 ), partridges ( Jia et al, 2023 ), ostriches ( Huang C and Huang M, 2008 ), and other species. There are two homologous copies of the CHD gene, of which CHD1-W is linked to the W chromosome and CHD1-Z is linked to the Z chromosome ( Lai et al, 2022 ).…”