Detection and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. in captive canaries (Serinus canaria) using different diagnostic methods

Cryptosporidium proventriculi in Captive Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus)

Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) are among the most commonly sold psittacines pets. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. in domestic N. hollandicus and identify risk factors for this infection. We collected fecal samples from 100 domestic cockatiels in the city of Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. Feces from birds of both genders and older than two months were collected. Owners were asked to complete a questionnaire to identify how they handle and care for their birds. Based on nested PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene, the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in the cockatiels sampled was 9.00%, 6.00% based on Malachite green staining, 5.00% based on modified Kinyoun straining, and 7.00% when the Malachite green was combined with Kinyoun. Applying multivariate logistic regression to test the association between Cryptosporidium proventriculi positivity and potential predictors showed that gastrointestinal alterations was a significant predictor (p < 0.01). Amplicons from five samples were sequenced successfully and showed 100% similarity with C. proventriculi. In summary, this study demonstrates the occurrence of C. proventriculi in captive cockatiels.

Enteric protozoal infections in camels: Etiology, epidemiology, and future perspectives

Camels have great potential as a safety valve for current and future food security for pastoralists, agropastoralists, and urban populations. Enteric protozoal diseases are important causes of economic losses in camels; however, they are poorly concerned globally. The most common members of enteric protozoa are Balantidium, Eimeria, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium. Some of them threaten human health as humans can be infected by consuming food or water contaminated with camel feces, particularly in poor communities with inadequate sanitation and low-quality healthcare facilities. For these reasons, a comprehensive and careful investigation was conducted on some enteric protozoal diseases of camels to present an updated insight into the etiology, epidemiology, and future trends in diagnosing and controlling camel enteric protozoa. Future studies on the camel enteric protozoa should be carried out to develop advanced diagnostic approaches in diverse farm animal species. Moreover, the protozoan zoonotic potential should be considered to secure human health.

Monitored therapy of sporadic mycobacteriosis caused by Mycobacterium genavense in Atlantic canaries (Serinus canaria) and Bengalese finch (Lonchura striata)

Introduction

Mycobacteriosis is a significant disease of companion and wild birds which causes emaciation and widely distributed lesions, as well as being a potential zoonosis. Its primary aetiological agents in birds are Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium and the fastidious Mycobacterium genavense. This study monitored the therapy of birds naturally infected with Mycobacterium genavense to gain understanding of its effectiveness and the interrelation of co-infections with the disease course and pharmacotherapy.

Material and Methods

Five Atlantic canaries (Serinus canaria) and one Bengalese finch (Lonchura striata) with tentative diagnoses of mycobacteriosis resulting from M. genavense infection were treated twice daily with clarithromycin at 40 mg/kg, ethambutol at 30 mg/kg, and moxifloxacin at 10 mg/kg for 6 months. Two canaries were also found to be carriers of Cryptosporidium galli. Mycobacteria in faecal samples of all birds were investigated by bacterioscopy and quantitative PCR.

Results

Molecular tests yielded positive results for up to four months after treatment initiation for M. genavense and Cryptosporidium, but microscopy failed to detect the latter after four weeks in specimens from one canary. Co-infections with polyomavirus (in all birds) and circovirus and bornavirus (in canaries) were diagnosed. Two birds died during treatment and one was euthanised because of other disease, 1 month after treatment completion. Three canaries were in relatively good health a year after treatment.

Conclusion

Canary circovirus and polyomavirus co-infection may suppress the immune system and this may facilitate the development of mycobacteriosis. The set of drugs used led to the complete cure of mycobacteriosis in three canaries. In one bird the disease returned. Clarithromycin was the active drug against C. galli. Molecular methods serve well to monitor mycobacteriosis therapy and identify M. genavense and C. galli carriage.

Cross-genera amplification and identification of Colpodella sp. with Cryptosporidium primers in fecal samples of zoo felids from northeast China

The protozoans include many intracellular human pathogens. Accurate detection of these pathogens is necessary to treat the diseases. In clinical epidemiology, molecular identification of protozoan is considered a more reliable and rapid method for identification than microscopy. Among these protozoans, Cryptosporidium considered being one of the important water-borne zoonotic pathogens and a major cause of a diarrheal disease named cryptosporidiosis in humans, domestic animals, and wild animals. This study was aimed to identify Cryptosporidium in zoo felids (N= 56) belonging to different zoo of China, but accidentlly Colpodella was encountered in the zoo felids sample and phylogenetic data confirmed this unexpected amplification from fecal samples using two-step nested-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the fact about the specific primers used previously by many researchers and cross-genera amplification. We came to know that genetically sequenced amplicon gives more accurate identification of species. This study suggests more investigation on Colpodella which has been neglected previously but gains the attention of researchers after identified from humans and animals and has been known to correlate with neurological symptoms in patients.

Cryptosporidium and cryptosporidiosis in wild birds: A One Health perspective

Cryptosporidium is one of the most important parasitic protozoa that can be transmitted through food and water contamination. With the increasing report of Cryptosporidium infections in wild birds, especially in herbivorous waterfowl, concerns have been raised for oocyst contamination of water and food supplies, which in turn can cause human and domestic animal infections in areas neighboring wild birds' habitats. This review discusses the epidemiology, species, and genotypes distribution of Cryptosporidium in wild birds around the world. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium in wild birds was calculated as 3.96% (1945/49129), with 6 Cryptosporidium species (C. andersoni, C. parvum, C. meleagridis, C. avium, C. baileyi, and C. galli) and 5 genotypes (Goose genotype I, Goose genotype II, Avian genotype I, Avian genotype III, and Avian genotype VI) reported. As wild birds mainly live in the wild, control method for the Cryptosporidium infection in wild birds is still lacking, which increases the probability of disease transmission from wild birds to humans. The main purpose of this review is to highlight the Cryptosporidium infection in wild birds and its transmission, associated risk factors, and their prevention, illustrating the necessity of multidisciplinary approaches toward screening and control of Cryptosporidium infections.

High Prevalence of Cryptosporidium meleagridis in Domestic Pigeons (Columba livia domestica) Raises a Prospect of Zoonotic Transmission in Babylon Province, Iraq

Cryptosporidium is one of the most common protozoan’s parasites with remarkable infectivity of a wide range of animals, including mammals and birds. Domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) act as a potential reservoir for several species of Cryptosporidium because they live in close proximity to humans. This study was conducted to assess the genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium in domestic pigeons in Iraq. A total of one hundred samples obtained from feces of domestic pigeons in Babylon province were included. After being exposed to microbial examination, all fecal samples were subsequently screened by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the possible recognition of Cryptosporidium species. Microscopy tests detected only 14/100 (14%) of infection with Cryptosporidium, while molecular tests detected 21/100 (21%) of the same targeted parasite. Sequencing experiments showed a high prevalence of C. meleagridis with 13/21 (61.90%), followed by C. baileyi with 7/21 (33.33%), while only one infection was detected with C. hominis (1/21) (4.76%). No co-infection with mixed Cryptosporidium spp. was observed, and sex factor was not found to affect the infection rate. In conclusion, this study informed a high prevalence of C. meleagridis in domestic pigeons than both C. baileyi and C. hominis, respectively, signifying a higher zoonotic potential of C. meleagridis between domestic pigeons and their handlers. This finding may raise more questions with regard to the increasing infectivity of C. meleagridis in human. This is the first important screening study in Iraq that uses molecular methods for the detection of Cryptosporidium in domesticated pigeons.

Cryptosporidium cf. avium in an inland-bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) - A case report and review of the literature

Here, we report the first case of Cryptosporidium cf. avium from an inland bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) from a wildlife sanctuary in Victoria, Australia. Molecular characterisation was conducted by PCR-coupled sequencing of regions in the small subunit of nuclear RNA (SSU), actin and large subunit of nuclear RNA (LSU) genes. The sequences obtained grouped with those of C. ornithophilus and other C. avium genotypes/variants originating from reptiles or birds. We discuss this case in relation to the current state of knowledge of C. avium of birds and reptiles, considering provenance and environment (agricultural, pet industry, wildlife, zoo or wildlife park) as well as clinical context, and pathological changes associated with cryptosporidiosis in these host animals.

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Characterisation of Cryptosporidium cf. avium from an inland bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps).

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Molecular differentiation of C. cf. avium from other members of the C. avium clade.

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Pathogenicity of C. cf. avium seems higher than other members of this clade.

First Detection of Cryptosporidium spp. in Migratory Whooper Swans (Cygnus cygnus) in China

Cryptosporidium is an important protozoan parasite that can cause gastrointestinal diseases in humans and that also causes respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases in birds. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of Cryptosporidium species in migratory whooper swans in China. Fecal samples (n = 467) from whooper swans were collected from Sanmenxia Swan Lake National Urban Wetland Park, China. The samples were analyzed for Cryptosporidium species and genotypes with PCR along a sequence analysis of the small subunit rRNA. Cryptosporidium was detected in eight of the 467 (1.7%) samples. The analysis of the small subunit rRNA sequence data revealed two zoonotic species (Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium andersoni) and one genotype (Cryptosporidium goose genotype II). These are the first data on the positive rate of Cryptosporidium spp. in whooper swans in China, and they suggest that whooper swans can harbor the zoonotic species C. parvum and C. andersoni in China.