Cryptosporidium species in post-weaned and adult sheep and goats from N.W. Spain: public and animal health significance

Publication date: Available online 25 February 2018 Source:Veterinary Parasitology Author(s): P. Díaz, E. Navarro, A. Prieto, A. Pérez-Creo, M. Viña, J.M. Díaz-Cao, C.M. López, R. Panadero, G. Fernández, P. Díez-Baños, P. Morrondo Application of molecular approaches has led to a significant progress on the knowledge of the epidemiology of Cryptosporidium spp.. Nevertheless, molecular information on the occurrence of cryptosporidiosis in domestic small ruminants, especially in goats, are limited and restricted to the study of a modest number of isolates, mainly from diarrhoeic neonates. In order to determine the Cryptosporidium species present in healthy post-weaned and adult small ruminants from north-western Spain and to analyse a possible age-related distribution of species, faecal specimens were collected in sheep and goat farms without neonatal diarrhoea outbreaks the year before the sampling. Cryptosporidium spp. DNA was detected by SSU-rRNA PCR-RFLP, using restriction enzymes SspI, VspI and MboII. C. parvum and C. ubiquitum isolates were further characterized at the GP60 locus. Our results reveal that Cryptosporidium spp. is widely distributed in small ruminant farms (47.4-50.0%), although its prevalence is low in both hosts (5.9-6.0%). No significant differences in individual prevalence were detected between age groups. C. xiaoi and the zoonotic C. parvum and C. ubiquitum were identified. In sheep, C. parvum was the predominant species and its prev...
Source: Veterinary Parasitology - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research