Prevalence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Giardia duodenalis in dairy cattle in Ningxia, northwestern China

This study aimed to evaluate the zoonotic potential of these three protozoa. In this study, small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) and 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) genes ofCryptosporidium; internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene ofE. bieneusi; and SSU rRNA, glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh), triosephosphate isomerase (tpi), and beta-giardin (bg) genes ofG. duodenalis were examined. DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction, and sequence analysis were performed on fecal samples collected from 320 dairy cattle at three intensive dairy farms in Ningxia in 2021 to determine the prevalence and genetic characteristics of these three protozoa. The findings revealed that 61.56% (197/320) of the samples were infected with at least one protozoan. The overall prevalence ofCryptosporidium was 19.38% (62/320),E. bieneusi was 41.56% (133/320), andG. duodenalis was 29.38% (94/320). This study identified fourCryptosporidium species (C. bovis,C. andersoni,C. ryanae, andC. parvum) and the presence of mixed infections with two or threeCryptosporidium species.C. bovis was the dominant species in this study, while the dominantC. parvum subtypes were IIdA15G1 and IIdA20G1. The genotypes ofE. bieneusis were J, BEB4, and I alongside the novel genotypes NX1 –NX8, all belonging to group 2, with genotype J being dominant.G. duodenalis assemblages were identified as assemblages E, A, and B, and a mixed infection involving assemblages A  + E was identified, with assemblage E being the dominant one. Concur...
Source: Veterinary Research Communications - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research