Prevalence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in deer in Henan and Jilin, China

Abstract

BackgroundLittle is known about the prevalence and zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in deer in China. In this study, 662 fecal samples were collected from 11 farms in Henan and Jilin Provinces between July 2013 and August 2014, and were screened for the presence of Cryptosporidium and G. duodenalis with genotyping and subtyping methods.ResultsCryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis were detected in 6.80% (45/662) and 1.21% (5/662) of samples, respectively. Six Cryptosporidium species/genotypes were identified based on the small subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (SSU rRNA) gene: C. parvum (n = 11); C. andersoni (n = 5); C. ubiquitum (n = 3); C. muris (n = 1); C. suis-like (n = 1); and Cryptosporidium deer genotype (n = 24). When five of the 11 C. parvum isolates were subtyped by sequencing the 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene, zoonotic subtypes IIaA15G2R2 (n = 4) and IIdA19G1 (n = 1) were found. According to a subtype analysis, three C. ubiquitum isolates belonged to XIIa subtype 2. In contrast, only assemblage E was detected in the five Giardia-positive samples with small subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (SSU rRNA) gene sequencing.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first study to report C. andersoni, as well as C. parvum zoonotic subtypes IIaA15G2R2 and IIdA19G1 in cervids. These data, though limited, suggest that cervids may be a source of zoonotic Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Cervids in the present study are likely to be of low zoonotic potential to humans, and more molecular epidemiological studies are required to clarify the prevalence and public health significance of Cryptosporidium and G. duodenalis in cervids throughout China.

Prevalence and Characterization of Cryptosporidium Species and Genotypes in Four Farmed Deer Species in the Northeast of China

“…However, the number of studies characterizing Cryptosporidium spp. in deer is low ( Table 1) (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25). In this study, the average prevalence of Cryptosporidium in the different deer species was 7.1% (15.1% for sika deer, 4.0% for reindeer, 4.6% for red deer, and 5.6% for roe deer), which was higher than previous studies in China (13)(14)(15)(16).…”

“…muskrat II genotype, C. hominis-like genotype, and caribou genotype) are prevalent, suggesting that deer infection with Cryptosporidium poses a potential threat to human health ( Table 1) (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25). In China, reindeer, sika deer, red deer, and Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) are commonly farmed in the northeast of China (14).…”

“…In China, reindeer, sika deer, red deer, and Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) are commonly farmed in the northeast of China (14). However, reports on Cryptosporidium infections in these animals are limited (13)(14)(15)(16). This study investigated the prevalence and species/genotypes distribution of Cryptosporidium in these four deer species in northeastern China.…”

Molecular characterization of Giardia intestinalis and Cryptosporidium parvum from calves with diarrhoea in Austria and evaluation of point-of-care tests

“…The single sample positive for genotype A was 100% identical with sequences published in GenBank ® isolated from cervids (fallow deer, moose, red deer). The assumed host-specific sub-assemblage AIII is primarily detected in wild ungulates [20,55,56], but occasional appearances of sub-assemblage AIII in cattle [57] have been reported. The 75 days-old calf harbouring this genotype was housed indoors with another calf of the same age.…”

Prevalence and genotypic identification of Cryptosporidium spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in captive Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) in Heilongjiang and Fujian provinces of China

“…Although C. andersoni is widely considered a cattlespecific Cryptosporidium species, it's occurrence in other animals and humans is increasing [18,19]. To date, C. andersoni has been detected in cattle, yaks, sheep, goats, deer, rodents, houses, non-human primates, camels, and giant pandas [18,[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. Contrasting with its occasional detection in other animals, C. andersoni is the common Cryptosporidium species in cattle, which appear its natural host [18].…”