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Gomes PD, Hirano LQL, de Paula RC. Epidemiological survey of infectious agents in free-ranging maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) in Northeastern Brazil. Braz J Microbiol 2024; 55:933-941. [PMID: 38305952 PMCID: PMC10920584 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-023-01231-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases are one of the most concerning threats to maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) due to the potential impact on free-ranging populations. The species is currently classified as vulnerable according to the national list of threatened species and occurs mainly in open habitats, such as the Cerrado, a tropical savannah, which comprises its main distribution area in Brazil. In the northeastern region, it occurs in the Cerrado of Bahia, Piauí, Maranhão, and Tocantins states. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the occurrence of infectious agents in Chrysocyon brachyurus through an epidemiological assessment of free-ranging individuals in western Bahia, specifically in the Barreiras microregion, a Cerrado area intensely fragmented and anthropized by agricultural activity. Eleven specimens were evaluated for serological titration, antigen research, and genetic material research for canine distemper virus (CDV), canine parvovirus (CPV), adenovirus-canine-type 1 (CAdV-1), canine coronavirus (CCoV), Leptospira interrogans and Toxoplasma gondii from 2020 to 2022. In addition to maned wolves, domestic dogs were also evaluated and tested. All maned wolves (100%) evaluated by the dot-ELISA technique exhibited immunoglobulin M (IgM) and seven (64%) exhibited immunoglobulin G (IgG) against CDV and CPV, while 100% exhibited IgG against CDV when using the immunochromatographic technique. Regarding CAdV-1, 90% were seropositive for IgG, while 64% exhibited IgG against T. gondii. Nine dogs from the region were also sampled, and all (100%) exhibited IgM and IgG against CDV and CPV. For IgG against T. gondii and against CAdV-1, 90% of the animals were seropositive. Molecular evaluation yielded negative results for all maned wolves and dogs assessed for CAdV-1, CDV, and T. gondii, as well as the CCoV antigen. These data indicate the occurrence of viral agents and Toxoplasma gondii in maned wolves and dogs, suggesting circulation in both populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Damasceno Gomes
- Associação Parque Vida Cerrado, BR 242, km 870, Zona Rural, Barreiras, Bahia, 47819899, Brazil.
- Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro - Asa Norte, Brasília, Distrito Federal, 70910900, Brazil.
| | - Líria Queiroz Luz Hirano
- Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro - Asa Norte, Brasília, Distrito Federal, 70910900, Brazil
| | - Rogério Cunha de Paula
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Carnívoros - CENAP/ICMBio, Estrada Municipal Hisaichi Takebayashi, 8600 - Bairro da Usina, Atibaia, São Paulo, 12952011, Brazil
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Barbosa AD, Egan S, Feng Y, Xiao L, Balogun S, Ryan U. Zoonotic Cryptosporidium and Giardia in marsupials-an update. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:107. [PMID: 38253768 PMCID: PMC10803519 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08129-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Marsupials, inhabiting diverse ecosystems, including urban and peri-urban regions in Australasia and the Americas, intersect with human activities, leading to zoonotic spill-over and anthroponotic spill-back of pathogens, including Cryptosporidium and Giardia. This review assesses the current knowledge on the diversity of Cryptosporidium and Giardia species in marsupials, focusing on the potential zoonotic risks. Cryptosporidium fayeri and C. macropodum are the dominant species in marsupials, while in possums, the host-specific possum genotype dominates. Of these three species/genotypes, only C. fayeri has been identified in two humans and the zoonotic risk is considered low. Generally, oocyst shedding in marsupials is low, further supporting a low transmission risk. However, there is some evidence of spill-back of C. hominis into kangaroo populations, which requires continued monitoring. Although C. hominis does not appear to be established in small marsupials like possums, comprehensive screening and analysis are essential for a better understanding of the prevalence and potential establishment of zoonotic Cryptosporidium species in small marsupials. Both host-specific and zoonotic Giardia species have been identified in marsupials. The dominance of zoonotic G. duodenalis assemblages A and B in marsupials may result from spill-back from livestock and humans and it is not yet understood if these are transient or established infections. Future studies using multilocus typing tools and whole-genome sequencing are required for a better understanding of the zoonotic risk from Giardia infections in marsupials. Moreover, much more extensive screening of a wider range of marsupial species, particularly in peri-urban areas, is required to provide a clearer understanding of the zoonotic risk of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in marsupials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda D Barbosa
- Harry Butler Institute, Vector- and Water-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia.
- CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasilia, DF, 70040-020, Brazil.
| | - Siobhon Egan
- Harry Butler Institute, Vector- and Water-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Yaoyu Feng
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Lihua Xiao
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Samson Balogun
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Una Ryan
- Harry Butler Institute, Vector- and Water-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
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3
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Ryan U, Hill K, Deere D. Review of generic screening level assumptions for quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) for estimating public health risks from Australian drinking water sources contaminated with Cryptosporidium by recreational activities. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 220:118659. [PMID: 35635918 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
As urban communities continue to grow, demand for recreational access (including swimming) in drinking water sources have increased, yet relatively little is understood about the public health implications this poses for drinking water consumers. Preventative risk-based approaches to catchment management, informed by quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA), requires accurate input data to effectively model risks. A sound understanding of the knowledge gaps is also important to comprehend levels of uncertainty and help prioritise research needs. Cryptosporidium is one of the most important causes of waterborne outbreaks of gastroenteritis globally due to its resistance to chlorine. This review was undertaken by Water Research Australia to provide the most up-to-date information on current Cryptosporidium epidemiological data and underlying assumptions for exposure assessment, dose response and risk assessment for generic components of QMRA for Cryptosporidium and highlights priorities for common research. Key interim recommendations and guidelines for numerical values for relatively simple screening level QMRA modelling are provided to help support prospective studies of risks to drinking water consumers from Cryptosporidium due to body-contact recreation in source water. The review does not cover site-specific considerations, such as the levels of activity in the source water, the influence of dilution and inactivation in reservoirs, or water treatment. Although the focus is Australia, the recommendations and numerical values developed in this review, and the highlighted research priorities, are broadly applicable across all drinking source water sources that allow recreational activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Ryan
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Perth, Australia.
| | - Kelly Hill
- Water Research Australia, 250 Victoria Square, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Dan Deere
- Water Futures, Sydney, Australia and Water Research Australia, Australia
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4
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Pane S, Putignani L. Cryptosporidium: Still Open Scenarios. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11050515. [PMID: 35631036 PMCID: PMC9143492 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11050515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidiosis is increasingly identified as a leading cause of childhood diarrhea and malnutrition in both low-income and high-income countries. The strong impact on public health in epidemic scenarios makes it increasingly essential to identify the sources of infection and understand the transmission routes in order to apply the right prevention or treatment protocols. The objective of this literature review was to present an overview of the current state of human cryptosporidiosis, reviewing risk factors, discussing advances in the drug treatment and epidemiology, and emphasizing the need to identify a government system for reporting diagnosed cases, hitherto undervalued.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Pane
- Department of Diagnostic and Laboratory Medicine, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Unit of Microbiology and Diagnostic Immunology, Unit of Microbiomics, 00146 Rome, Italy;
| | - Lorenza Putignani
- Department of Diagnostic and Laboratory Medicine, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Unit of Microbiology and Diagnostic Immunology, Unit of Microbiomics and Multimodal Laboratory Medicine Research Area, Unit of Human Microbiome, 00146 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Ryan U, Zahedi A, Feng Y, Xiao L. An Update on Zoonotic Cryptosporidium Species and Genotypes in Humans. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:3307. [PMID: 34828043 PMCID: PMC8614385 DOI: 10.3390/ani11113307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The enteric parasite, Cryptosporidium is a major cause of diarrhoeal illness in humans and animals worldwide. No effective therapeutics or vaccines are available and therefore control is dependent on understanding transmission dynamics. The development of molecular detection and typing tools has resulted in the identification of a large number of cryptic species and genotypes and facilitated our understanding of their potential for zoonotic transmission. Of the 44 recognised Cryptosporidium species and >120 genotypes, 19 species, and four genotypes have been reported in humans with C. hominis, C. parvum, C. meleagridis, C. canis and C. felis being the most prevalent. The development of typing tools that are still lacking some zoonotic species and genotypes and more extensive molecular epidemiological studies in countries where the potential for transmission is highest are required to further our understanding of this important zoonotic pathogen. Similarly, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and amplicon next-generation sequencing (NGS) are important for more accurately tracking transmission and understanding the mechanisms behind host specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Una Ryan
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6152, Australia;
| | - Alireza Zahedi
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6152, Australia;
| | - Yaoyu Feng
- Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.F.); (L.X.)
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Lihua Xiao
- Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.F.); (L.X.)
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China
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6
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Mathison BA, Sapp SGH. An annotated checklist of the eukaryotic parasites of humans, exclusive of fungi and algae. Zookeys 2021; 1069:1-313. [PMID: 34819766 PMCID: PMC8595220 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1069.67403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The classification of "parasites" in the medical field is a challenging notion, a group which historically has included all eukaryotes exclusive of fungi that invade and derive resources from the human host. Since antiquity, humans have been identifying and documenting parasitic infections, and this collective catalog of parasitic agents has expanded considerably with technology. As our understanding of species boundaries and the use of molecular tools has evolved, so has our concept of the taxonomy of human parasites. Consequently, new species have been recognized while others have been relegated to synonyms. On the other hand, the decline of expertise in classical parasitology and limited curricula have led to a loss of awareness of many rarely encountered species. Here, we provide a comprehensive checklist of all reported eukaryotic organisms (excluding fungi and allied taxa) parasitizing humans resulting in 274 genus-group taxa and 848 species-group taxa. For each species, or genus where indicated, a concise summary of geographic distribution, natural hosts, route of transmission and site within human host, and vectored pathogens are presented. Ubiquitous, human-adapted species as well as very rare, incidental zoonotic organisms are discussed in this annotated checklist. We also provide a list of 79 excluded genera and species that have been previously reported as human parasites but are not believed to be true human parasites or represent misidentifications or taxonomic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blaine A. Mathison
- Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology, ARUP Laboratories, Salt Lake City, UT, USAInstitute for Clinical and Experimental PathologySalt Lake CityUnited States of America
| | - Sarah G. H. Sapp
- Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USACenters for Disease Control and PreventionAtlantaUnited States of America
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Ryan UM, Feng Y, Fayer R, Xiao L. Taxonomy and molecular epidemiology of Cryptosporidium and Giardia - a 50 year perspective (1971-2021). Int J Parasitol 2021; 51:1099-1119. [PMID: 34715087 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The protozoan parasites Cryptosporidium and Giardia are significant causes of diarrhoea worldwide and are responsible for numerous waterborne and foodborne outbreaks of diseases. Over the last 50 years, the development of improved detection and typing tools has facilitated the expanding range of named species. Currently at least 44 Cryptosporidium spp. and >120 genotypes, and nine Giardia spp., are recognised. Many of these Cryptosporidium genotypes will likely be described as species in the future. The phylogenetic placement of Cryptosporidium at the genus level is still unclear and further research is required to better understand its evolutionary origins. Zoonotic transmission has long been known to play an important role in the epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis, and the development and application of next generation sequencing tools is providing evidence for this. Comparative whole genome sequencing is also providing key information on the genetic mechanisms for host specificity and human infectivity, and will enable One Health management of these zoonotic parasites in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Una M Ryan
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
| | - Yaoyu Feng
- Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ronald Fayer
- Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, BARC-East, Building 173, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Lihua Xiao
- Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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8
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Hussain S, Mohsin Bukhari S, Wang L, Khalid N, Hou Z. Exploration of Zoo felids in North-East China for the prevalence and molecular identification of Cryptosporidium spp. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11819. [PMID: 34466282 PMCID: PMC8380424 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidium spp. is a protozoan having the potential to cause zoonosis in humans and animals. Despite the zoonotic importance of this protozoan parasite, limited data are available about its prevalence in zoo felids in North-Eastern China. Hence, the current study was designed to determine the occurrence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. from the fecal samples of captive zoo felids. Fecal samples (N = 244) were collected from different felids from five different zoos of North-Eastern China. 18S rRNA gene was amplified from the genomic DNA using species specific primers in nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) and Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium spp. was found. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium was 9.43% (23/244). The 18S rRNA gene similarity analysis showed that 6 Cryptosporidium isolates were Cryptosporidium parvum and the remaining 17 Cryptosporidium isolates were resembling to a Cryptosporidium spp., which is similar to Cryptosporidium NEV10. Phylogenetic tree was constructed based on 18S rRNA of Cryptosporidium spp. The similarity of Cryptosporidium parvum was with its other isolates in China, India, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Czech Republic, Spain and USA while Cryptosporidium NEV10 alike had a close relationship with Turkish isolates. In conclusion, Cryptosporidium was prevailing in feline animals of China zoo and zoo officials are directed to consider their control policy as it can be a cause of zoonosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shakeel Hussain
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Syed Mohsin Bukhari
- Department of Wildlife and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Lixin Wang
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Nimra Khalid
- Department of Wildlife and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Zhijun Hou
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China.,Key Laboratory of Wildlife Conservation, China State Forestry Administration, Harbin, China
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Fehlberg HF, Matos Ribeiro C, Brito Junior PDA, Miranda Oliveira BC, Albano dos Santos C, del Valle Alvarez MR, Harvey TV, Rêgo Albuquerque G. Detection of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in small wild mammals in northeastern Brazil. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0256199. [PMID: 34398925 PMCID: PMC8366977 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the occurrence of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in rodents and marsupials from the Atlantic Forest in southern Bahia, northeastern Brazil. Two hundred and four fecal samples were collected from different forest areas in the municipalities of Ilhéus, Una, Belmonte, and Mascote. Identifications were performed using PCR and nested PCR followed by sequencing of the gdh and tpi genes for G. duodenalis, and the gp60 and Hsp-70 genes for Cryptosporidium. The total frequency of positive PCR samples for both G. duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. was 5.4% (11/204). Giardia duodenalis occurred in 2.94% (4/136) of rodents and 2.94% (2/68) of marsupials. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium in rodents and marsupials was 1.47% (2/136) and 4.41% (3/68), respectively. In the areas sampled, the frequency of parasitism was 50% (7/14), while the Mascote region alone had no parasitized animals. The G. duodenalis subgenotype AI was identified in the rodent species Hylaeamys laticeps, Oecomys catherinae, Oligoryzomys nigripes and Akodon cursor, and in the marsupials Gracilinanus agilis and Monodelphis americana. In the rodents Rhipidomys mastacalis, H. laticeps and in the marsupial Marmosa murina the protozoa Cryptosporidium fayeri, Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium ubiquitum with subtypes IIa and IVg by the gp60 gene were found. In conclusion, this study provides the genetic characterization of Giardia and Cryptosporidium species and genotypes in rodents and marsupials. And, these findings reinforce that the rodent and marsupial species mentioned above play a role as new hosts for Giardia and Cryptosporidium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hllytchaikra Ferraz Fehlberg
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Santa Cruz State University—UESC, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Cássia Matos Ribeiro
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Santa Cruz State University—UESC, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | | | | | - Camila Albano dos Santos
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Santa Cruz State University—UESC, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | | | - Tatiane Vitor Harvey
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Santa Cruz State University—UESC, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | - George Rêgo Albuquerque
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Santa Cruz State University—UESC, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
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Braima K, Zahedi A, Oskam C, Austen J, Egan S, Reid S, Ryan U. Zoonotic infection by Cryptosporidium fayeri IVgA10G1T1R1 in a Western Australian human. Zoonoses Public Health 2021; 68:358-360. [PMID: 33455078 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In the present study, a 37-year-old immunosuppressed female in Western Australia (WA) was identified as positive for Cryptosporidium by microscopy and treated with nitazoxanide. Molecular analyses at the 18S ribosomal RNA (18S) and 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) loci identified C. fayeri subtype IVgA10G1T1R1, which had previously been identified in western grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus) in WA. Next generation sequencing (NGS) of the gp60 locus confirmed the absence of mixed infections with other Cryptosporidium species. This is only the second report of C. fayeri in a human host highlighting the zoonotic potential of this wildlife-associated species. Routine diagnosis using molecular methods in laboratories is required to better understand the diversity and epidemiology of Cryptosporidium parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Braima
- Vector and Waterborne Pathogen Research Group, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Alireza Zahedi
- Vector and Waterborne Pathogen Research Group, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Charlotte Oskam
- Vector and Waterborne Pathogen Research Group, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Jill Austen
- Vector and Waterborne Pathogen Research Group, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Siobhon Egan
- Vector and Waterborne Pathogen Research Group, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Simon Reid
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Qld, Australia
| | - Una Ryan
- Vector and Waterborne Pathogen Research Group, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
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Zahedi A, Ryan U. Cryptosporidium – An update with an emphasis on foodborne and waterborne transmission. Res Vet Sci 2020; 132:500-512. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2020.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Takaki Y, Takami Y, Watanabe T, Nakaya T, Murakoshi F. Molecular identification of Cryptosporidium isolates from ill exotic pet animals in Japan including a new subtype in Cryptosporidium fayeri. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2020; 21:100430. [PMID: 32862916 PMCID: PMC7324920 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Cryptosporidium is an obligate intracellular parasite which can cause fatal diarrheal disease in exotic animals. Sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps), hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris), chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera), and common leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) are popular exotic animals commonly sold in pet shops in Japan. We herein investigated the species and subtypes of Cryptosporidium in these animals. Cryptosporidium fayeri was detected in a sugar glider in a Japanese animal hospital. Sequence analyses of the 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene revealed that C. fayeri belonged to subtype family IVh (IVhA13G2T1), which was proposed to be a new subtype. This is the first study to report C. fayeri infection in a sugar glider. In other animals, the Cryptosporidium horse genotype, C. ubiquitum, and C. varanii were detected in two four-toed hedgehogs (A. albiventris), a chinchilla (C. lanigera), and common leopard gecko (E. macularius), respectively. The gp60 subtypes identified were VIbA13 of the horse genotype and XIId of C. ubiquitum. The present results revealed that potentially zoonotic Cryptosporidium is widespread in exotic animals in Japan. Cryptosporidium was detected from ill exotic pet animals in Japan. Cryptosporidium fayeri was detected for the first time from a sugar glider. The new 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60) subtype family IVh was detected from Cryptosporidium fayeri.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youki Takaki
- Verts Animal Hospital, 1F Kyuso Bldg 2-21-5, Naka, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka 812-0893, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Takami
- Verts Animal Hospital, 1F Kyuso Bldg 2-21-5, Naka, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka 812-0893, Japan
| | - Takehiro Watanabe
- Verts Animal Hospital, 1F Kyuso Bldg 2-21-5, Naka, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka 812-0893, Japan
| | - Takaaki Nakaya
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku Kyoto 602-8566, Japan
| | - Fumi Murakoshi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku Kyoto 602-8566, Japan.
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Braima K, Zahedi A, Oskam C, Reid S, Pingault N, Xiao L, Ryan U. Retrospective analysis of Cryptosporidium species in Western Australian human populations (2015-2018), and emergence of the C. hominis IfA12G1R5 subtype. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2019; 73:306-313. [PMID: 31146044 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2019.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 05/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cryptosporidium species are a major cause of diarrhoea worldwide. In the present study, a retrospective analysis of 109 microscopically Cryptosporidium-positive faecal specimens from Western Australian patients, collected between 2015 and 2018 was conducted. Sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA and the 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene loci identified four Cryptosporidium species: C. hominis (86.2%, 94/109), C. parvum (11.0%, 12/109), C. meleagridis (1.8%, 2/109) and C. viatorum (0.9%, 1/109). Subtyping at the gp60 locus identified a total of 11 subtypes including the emergence of the previously rare C. hominis IfA12G1R5 subtype in 2017 as the dominant subtype (46.7%, 21/45). This subtype has also recently emerged as the dominant subtype in the United States but the reasons for its emergence are unknown. This is also the first report of C. viatorum in humans in Australia and a novel subtype (XVaA3g) was identified in the one positive patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Braima
- Vector and Waterborne Pathogens Research Group, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia
| | - Alireza Zahedi
- Vector and Waterborne Pathogens Research Group, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia
| | - Charlotte Oskam
- Vector and Waterborne Pathogens Research Group, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia
| | - Simon Reid
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia
| | - Nevada Pingault
- OzFoodNet Communicable Disease Control Directorate, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Lihua Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Una Ryan
- Vector and Waterborne Pathogens Research Group, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia.
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Zahedi A, Monis P, Gofton AW, Oskam CL, Ball A, Bath A, Bartkow M, Robertson I, Ryan U. Cryptosporidium species and subtypes in animals inhabiting drinking water catchments in three states across Australia. WATER RESEARCH 2018; 134:327-340. [PMID: 29438893 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
As part of long-term monitoring of Cryptosporidium in water catchments serving Western Australia, New South Wales (Sydney) and Queensland, Australia, we characterised Cryptosporidium in a total of 5774 faecal samples from 17 known host species and 7 unknown bird samples, in 11 water catchment areas over a period of 30 months (July 2013 to December 2015). All samples were initially screened for Cryptosporidium spp. at the 18S rRNA locus using a quantitative PCR (qPCR). Positives samples were then typed by sequence analysis of an 825 bp fragment of the 18S gene and subtyped at the glycoprotein 60 (gp60) locus (832 bp). The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium across the various hosts sampled was 18.3% (1054/5774; 95% CI, 17.3-19.3). Of these, 873 samples produced clean Sanger sequencing chromatograms, and the remaining 181 samples, which initially produced chromatograms suggesting the presence of multiple different sequences, were re-analysed by Next- Generation Sequencing (NGS) to resolve the presence of Cryptosporidium and the species composition of potential mixed infections. The overall prevalence of confirmed mixed infection was 1.7% (98/5774), and in the remaining 83 samples, NGS only detected one species of Cryptosporidium. Of the 17 Cryptosporidium species and four genotypes detected (Sanger sequencing combined with NGS), 13 are capable of infecting humans; C. parvum, C. hominis, C. ubiquitum, C. cuniculus, C. meleagridis, C. canis, C. felis, C. muris, C. suis, C. scrofarum, C. bovis, C. erinacei and C. fayeri. Oocyst numbers per gram of faeces (g-1) were also determined using qPCR, with medians varying from 6021-61,064 across the three states. The significant findings were the detection of C. hominis in cattle and kangaroo faeces and the high prevalence of C. parvum in cattle. In addition, two novel C. fayeri subtypes (IVaA11G3T1 and IVgA10G1T1R1) and one novel C. meleagridis subtype (IIIeA18G2R1) were identified. This is also the first report of C. erinacei in Australia. Future work to monitor the prevalence of Cryptosporidium species and subtypes in animals in these catchments is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Zahedi
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
| | - Paul Monis
- Australian Water Quality Centre, South Australian Water Corporation, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Alexander W Gofton
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
| | - Charlotte L Oskam
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Ian Robertson
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia; China-Australia Joint Research and Training Center for Veterinary Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Una Ryan
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia.
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Ryan U, Hijjawi N, Xiao L. Foodborne cryptosporidiosis. Int J Parasitol 2017; 48:1-12. [PMID: 29122606 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Revised: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Foodborne illness, the majority of which is caused by enteric infectious agents, costs global economies billions of dollars each year. The protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium is particularly suited to foodborne transmission and is responsible for >8 million cases of foodborne illness annually. Procedures have been developed for sensitive detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts on fresh produce and molecular diagnostic assays have been widely used in case linkages and infection source tracking, especially during outbreak investigations. The integrated use of advanced diagnostic techniques with conventional epidemiological studies is essential to improve our understanding of the occurrence, source and epidemiology of foodborne cryptosporidiosis. The implementation of food safety management tools such as Good Hygienic Practices (GHP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), and Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) in industrialised nations and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in developing countries is central for prevention and control and foodborne cryptosporidiosis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Una Ryan
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Vector- and Water-Borne Pathogen Research Group, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia.
| | - Nawal Hijjawi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, The Hashemite University, PO Box 150459, Zarqa 13115, Jordan
| | - Lihua Xiao
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
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Native and introduced squirrels in Italy host different Cryptosporidium spp. Eur J Protistol 2017; 61:64-75. [PMID: 28992520 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2017.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Revised: 09/13/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The present study was undertaken to describe Cryptosporidium spp. infection in tree squirrels from 17 locations in Northern Italy. A total of 357 squirrels were examined, including species native to Europe (Sciurus vulgaris; n=123), and species introduced from North America (Sciurus carolinensis; n=162) and Southeast Asia (Callosciurus erythraeus; n=72). Faecal samples of all squirrels were examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium infection by microscopy (flotation method) and PCR/sequence analysis of the Cryptosporidium 18S rRNA, actin, and gp60 genes. Despite the overlapping ranges of native and introduced tree squirrel species in the study area, they host different Cryptosporidium spp. Sciurus vulgaris were exclusively infected with Cryptosporidium ferret genotype (n=13) belonging to three novel gp60 subtypes, VIIIb-VIIId. Sciurus carolinensis hosted C. ubiquitum subtype XIIb (n=2), Cryptosporidium skunk genotype subtype XVIa (n=3), and chipmunk genotype I subtype XIVa (n=1). Cryptosporidium chipmunk genotype I subtype XIVa was also found in two C. erythraeus. Comparing data from this and previous studies, we propose that Cryptosporidium skunk genotype and possibly C. ubiquitum subtype XIIb were introduced to Europe with eastern grey squirrels. Cryptosporidium chipmunk genotype I and ferret genotype were associated with high intensity infections, but there was no association with diarrhoea.
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Xiao L, Feng Y. Molecular epidemiologic tools for waterborne pathogens Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2017; 8-9:14-32. [PMID: 32095639 PMCID: PMC7034008 DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular diagnostic tools have played an important role in improving our understanding of the transmission of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis, which are two of the most important waterborne parasites in industrialized nations. Genotyping tools are frequently used in the identification of host-adapted Cryptosporidium species and G. duodenalis assemblages, allowing the assessment of infection sources in humans and public health potential of parasites found in animals and the environment. In contrast, subtyping tools are more often used in case linkages, advanced tracking of infections sources, and assessment of disease burdens attributable to anthroponotic and zoonotic transmission. More recently, multilocus typing tools have been developed for population genetic characterizations of transmission dynamics and delineation of mechanisms for the emergence of virulent subtypes. With the recent development in next generation sequencing techniques, whole genome sequencing and comparative genomic analysis are increasingly used in characterizing Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis. The use of these tools in epidemiologic studies has identified significant differences in the transmission of Cryptosporidium spp. in humans between developing countries and industrialized nations, especially the role of zoonotic transmission in human infection. Geographic differences are also present in the distribution of G. duodenalis assemblages A and B in humans. In contrast, there is little evidence for widespread zoonotic transmission of giardiasis in both developing and industrialized countries. Differences in virulence have been identified among Cryptosporidium species and subtypes, and possibly between G. duodenalis assemblages A and B, and genetic recombination has been identified as one mechanism for the emergence of virulent C. hominis subtypes. These recent advances are providing insight into the epidemiology of waterborne protozoan parasites in both developing and developed countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihua Xiao
- Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Yaoyu Feng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
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Differences in the occurrence and epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in Western Australia (2002 − 2012). INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2017; 53:100-106. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2017.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Revised: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Wait LF, Fox S, Peck S, Power ML. Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium and Giardia from the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174994. [PMID: 28423030 PMCID: PMC5397283 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is a carnivorous marsupial found only in the wild in Tasmania, Australia. Tasmanian devils are classified as endangered and are currently threatened by devil facial tumour disease, a lethal transmissible cancer that has decimated the wild population in Tasmania. To prevent extinction of Tasmanian devils, conservation management was implemented in 2003 under the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program. This study aimed to assess if conservation management was altering the interactions between Tasmanian devils and their parasites. Molecular tools were used to investigate the prevalence and diversity of two protozoan parasites, Cryptosporidium and Giardia, in Tasmanian devils. A comparison of parasite prevalence between wild and captive Tasmanian devils showed that both Cryptosporidium and Giardia were significantly more prevalent in wild devils (p < 0.05); Cryptosporidium was identified in 37.9% of wild devils but only 10.7% of captive devils, while Giardia was identified in 24.1% of wild devils but only 0.82% of captive devils. Molecular analysis identified the presence of novel genotypes of both Cryptosporidium and Giardia. The novel Cryptosporidium genotype was 98.1% similar at the 18S rDNA to Cryptosporidium varanii (syn. C. saurophilum) with additional samples identified as C. fayeri, C. muris, and C. galli. Two novel Giardia genotypes, TD genotype 1 and TD genotype 2, were similar to G. duodenalis from dogs (94.4%) and a Giardia assemblage A isolate from humans (86.9%). Giardia duodenalis BIV, a zoonotic genotype of Giardia, was also identified in a single captive Tasmanian devil. These findings suggest that conservation management may be altering host-parasite interactions in the Tasmanian devil, and the presence of G. duodenalis BIV in a captive devil points to possible human-devil parasite transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liana F. Wait
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Samantha Fox
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Sarah Peck
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Michelle L. Power
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
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Zoonotic Cryptosporidium Species in Animals Inhabiting Sydney Water Catchments. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0168169. [PMID: 27973572 PMCID: PMC5156390 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidium is one of the most common zoonotic waterborne parasitic diseases worldwide and represents a major public health concern of water utilities in developed nations. As animals in catchments can shed human-infectious Cryptosporidium oocysts, determining the potential role of animals in dissemination of zoonotic Cryptosporidium to drinking water sources is crucial. In the present study, a total of 952 animal faecal samples from four dominant species (kangaroos, rabbits, cattle and sheep) inhabiting Sydney's drinking water catchments were screened for the presence of Cryptosporidium using a quantitative PCR (qPCR) and positives sequenced at multiple loci. Cryptosporidium species were detected in 3.6% (21/576) of kangaroos, 7.0% (10/142) of cattle, 2.3% (3/128) of sheep and 13.2% (14/106) of rabbit samples screened. Sequence analysis of a region of the 18S rRNA locus identified C. macropodum and C. hominis in 4 and 17 isolates from kangaroos respectively, C. hominis and C. parvum in 6 and 4 isolates respectively each from cattle, C. ubiquitum in 3 isolates from sheep and C. cuniculus in 14 isolates from rabbits. All the Cryptosporidium species identified were zoonotic species with the exception of C. macropodum. Subtyping using the 5' half of gp60 identified C. hominis IbA10G2 (n = 12) and IdA15G1 (n = 2) in kangaroo faecal samples; C. hominis IbA10G2 (n = 4) and C. parvum IIaA18G3R1 (n = 4) in cattle faecal samples, C. ubiquitum subtype XIIa (n = 1) in sheep and C. cuniculus VbA23 (n = 9) in rabbits. Additional analysis of a subset of samples using primers targeting conserved regions of the MIC1 gene and the 3' end of gp60 suggests that the C. hominis detected in these animals represent substantial variants that failed to amplify as expected. The significance of this finding requires further investigation but might be reflective of the ability of this C. hominis variant to infect animals. The finding of zoonotic Cryptosporidium species in these animals may have important implications for the management of drinking water catchments to minimize risk to public health.
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Lapen DR, Schmidt PJ, Thomas JL, Edge TA, Flemming C, Keithlin J, Neumann N, Pollari F, Ruecker N, Simhon A, Topp E, Wilkes G, Pintar KDM. Towards a more accurate quantitative assessment of seasonal Cryptosporidium infection risks in surface waters using species and genotype information. WATER RESEARCH 2016; 105:625-637. [PMID: 27721171 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2016.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2016] [Revised: 07/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/12/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Many Cryptosporidium species/genotypes are not considered infectious to humans, and more realistic estimations of seasonal infection risks could be made using human infectious species/genotype information to inform quantitative microbial risk assessments (QMRA). Cryptosporidium oocyst concentration and species/genotype data were collected from three surface water surveillance programs in two river basins [South Nation River, SN (2004-09) and Grand River, GR (2005-13)] in Ontario, Canada to evaluate seasonal infection risks. Main river stems, tributaries, agricultural drainage streams, water treatment plant intakes, and waste water treatment plant effluent impacted sites were sampled. The QMRA employed two sets of exposure data to compute risk: one assuming all observed oocysts were infectious to humans, and the other based on the fraction of oocysts that were C. hominis and/or C. parvum (dominant human infectious forms of the parasite). Viability was not considered and relative infection risk was evaluated using a single hypothetical recreational exposure. Many sample site groupings for both river systems, had significant seasonality in Cryptosporidium occurrence and concentrations (p ≤ 0.05); occurrence and concentrations were generally highest in autumn for SN, and autumn and summer for GR. Mean risk values (probability of infection per exposure) for all sites combined, for each river system, were roughly an order of magnitude lower (avg. of SN and GR 5.3 × 10-5) when considering just C. parvum and C. hominis oocysts, in relation to mean infection risk (per exposure) assuming all oocysts were infectious to humans (5.5 × 10-4). Seasonality in mean risk (targeted human infectious oocysts only) was most strongly evident in SN (e.g., 7.9 × 10-6 in spring and 8.1 × 10-5 in summer). Such differences are important if QMRA is used to quantify effects of water safety/quality management practices where inputs from a vast array of fecal pollution sources can readily occur. Cryptosporidium seasonality in water appears to match the seasonality of human infections from Cryptosporidium in the study regions. This study highlights the importance of Cryptosporidium species/genotype data to help determine surface water pollution sources and seasonality, as well as to help more accurately quantify human infection risks by the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- D R Lapen
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
| | - P J Schmidt
- Philip J. Schmidt Technical Consulting Inc., Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - J L Thomas
- Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - T A Edge
- Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
| | - C Flemming
- Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - J Keithlin
- Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario Canada
| | - N Neumann
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - F Pollari
- FoodNet Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - N Ruecker
- Water Quality Services, City of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - A Simhon
- Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - E Topp
- London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - G Wilkes
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - K D M Pintar
- Centre for Food-Borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Koehler AV, Haydon SR, Jex AR, Gasser RB. Cryptosporidium and Giardia taxa in faecal samples from animals in catchments supplying the city of Melbourne with drinking water (2011 to 2015). Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:315. [PMID: 27251294 PMCID: PMC4888428 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1607-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In a long-term program to monitor pathogens in water catchments serving the City of Melbourne in the State of Victoria in Australia, we detected and genetically characterised Cryptosporidium and Giardia in faecal samples from various animals in nine water reservoir areas over a period of 4 years (July 2011 to November 2015). METHODS This work was conducted using PCR-based single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and phylogenetic analyses of portions of the small subunit of ribosomal RNA (SSU) and 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) genes for Cryptosporidium, and triose-phosphate isomerase (tpi) gene for Giardia. RESULTS The prevalence of Cryptosporidium was 1.62 % (69 of 4,256 samples); 25 distinct sequence types were defined for pSSU, and six for gp60 which represented C. hominis (genotype Ib - subgenotype IbA10G2), C. cuniculus (genotype Vb - subgenotypes VbA26, and VbA25), and C. canis, C. fayeri, C. macropodum, C. parvum, C. ryanae, Cryptosporidium sp. "duck" genotype, C. suis and C. ubiquitum as well as 12 novel SSU sequence types. The prevalence of Giardia was 0.31 % (13 of 4,256 samples); all three distinct tpi sequence types defined represented assemblage A of G. duodenalis. CONCLUSIONS Of the 34 sequence types (genotypes) characterized here, five and one have been recorded previously for Cryptosporidium and Giardia, respectively, from humans. Novel genotypes of Cryptosporidium and Giardia were recorded for SSU (n = 12), gp60 (n = 4) and tpi (n = 1); the zoonotic potential of these novel genotypes is presently unknown. Future work will continue to monitor the prevalence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia genotypes in animals in these catchments, and expand investigations to humans. Nucleotide sequences reported in this paper are available in the GenBank database under accession nos. KU531647-KU531718.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anson V Koehler
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
| | | | - Aaron R Jex
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Robin B Gasser
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
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Mbae C, Mulinge E, Waruru A, Ngugi B, Wainaina J, Kariuki S. Genetic Diversity of Cryptosporidium in Children in an Urban Informal Settlement of Nairobi, Kenya. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142055. [PMID: 26691531 PMCID: PMC4687032 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2014] [Accepted: 10/16/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Globally Cryptosporidium and Giardia species are the most common non-bacterial causes of diarrhoea in children and HIV infected individuals, yet data on their role in paediatric diarrhoea in Kenya remains scant. This study investigated the occurrence of Cryptosporidium species, genotypes and subtypes in children, both hospitalized and living in an informal settlement in Nairobi. METHODS This was a prospective cross-sectional study in which faecal specimen positive for Cryptosporidium spp. by microscopy from HIV infected and uninfected children aged five years and below presenting with diarrhoea at selected outpatient clinics in Mukuru informal settlements, or admitted to the paediatric ward at the Mbagathi District Hospital were characterized. The analysis was done by Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) of the 18srRNA gene for species identification and PCR-sequencing of the 60 kDa glycoprotein (GP60) gene for subtyping. RESULTS C. hominis was the most common species of Cryptosporidium identified in125/151(82.8%) of the children. Other species identified were C. parvum 18/151(11.9%), while C. felis and C. meleagridis were identified in 4 and 2 children, respectively. Wide genetic variation was observed within C. hominis, with identification of 5 subtype families; Ia, Ib, Id, Ie and If and 21 subtypes. Only subtype family IIc was identified within C. parvum. There was no association between species and HIV status or patient type. CONCLUSION C. hominis is the most common species associated with diarrhoea in the study population. There was high genetic variability in the C. hominis isolates with 22 different subtypes identified, whereas genetic diversity was low within C. parvum with only one subtype family IIc identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Mbae
- Centre for Microbiological Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Erastus Mulinge
- Centre for Microbiological Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Benjamin Ngugi
- Centre for Microbiological Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - James Wainaina
- Bioscience eastern and central Africa, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Samuel Kariuki
- Centre for Microbiological Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
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Public health significance of zoonotic Cryptosporidium species in wildlife: Critical insights into better drinking water management. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2015; 5:88-109. [PMID: 28560163 PMCID: PMC5439462 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2015.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 12/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Cryptosporidium is an enteric parasite that is transmitted via the faecal-oral route, water and food. Humans, wildlife and domestic livestock all potentially contribute Cryptosporidium to surface waters. Human encroachment into natural ecosystems has led to an increase in interactions between humans, domestic animals and wildlife populations. Increasing numbers of zoonotic diseases and spill over/back of zoonotic pathogens is a consequence of this anthropogenic disturbance. Drinking water catchments and water reservoir areas have been at the front line of this conflict as they can be easily contaminated by zoonotic waterborne pathogens. Therefore, the epidemiology of zoonotic species of Cryptosporidium in free-ranging and captive wildlife is of increasing importance. This review focuses on zoonotic Cryptosporidium species reported in global wildlife populations to date, and highlights their significance for public health and the water industry.
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Lal A, Fearnley E, Kirk M. The Risk of Reported Cryptosporidiosis in Children Aged <5 Years in Australia is Highest in Very Remote Regions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2015; 12:11815-28. [PMID: 26393636 PMCID: PMC4586709 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph120911815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Revised: 08/25/2015] [Accepted: 08/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The incidence of cryptosporidiosis is highest in children <5 years, yet little is known about disease patterns across urban and rural areas of Australia. In this study, we examine whether the risk of reported cryptosporidiosis in children <5 years varies across an urban-rural gradient, after controlling for season and gender. Using Australian data on reported cryptosporidiosis from 2001 to 2012, we spatially linked disease data to an index of geographic remoteness to examine the geographic variation in cryptosporidiosis risk using negative binomial regression. The Incidence Risk Ratio (IRR) of reported cryptosporidiosis was higher in inner regional (IRR 1.4 95% CI 1.2–1.7, p < 0.001), and outer regional areas (IRR 2.4 95% CI 2.2–2.9, p < 0.001), and in remote (IRR 5.2 95% CI 4.3–6.2, p < 0.001) and very remote (IRR 8.2 95% CI 6.9–9.8, p < 0.001) areas, compared to major cities. A linear test for trend showed a statistically significant trend with increasing remoteness. Remote communities need to be a priority for future targeted health promotion and disease prevention interventions to reduce cryptosporidiosis in children <5 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparna Lal
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Building 62, Australian National University, Acton, Canberra 2602, Australia.
| | - Emily Fearnley
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Building 62, Australian National University, Acton, Canberra 2602, Australia.
| | - Martyn Kirk
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Building 62, Australian National University, Acton, Canberra 2602, Australia.
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Vermeulen ET, Ashworth DL, Eldridge MD, Power ML. Diversity of Cryptosporidium in brush-tailed rock-wallabies (Petrogale penicillata) managed within a species recovery programme. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2015; 4:190-6. [PMID: 25834789 PMCID: PMC4372656 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2015.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2014] [Revised: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cryptosporidium diversity was investigated in a BTRW as part of a recovery programme. Faecal samples from captive bred, supplemented and wild wallabies were screened. Cryptosporidium isolates were identified at three gene loci using PCR. Diverse species of Cryptosporidium were identified across populations. Both specific, C. fayeri, and broad host species, C. meleagridis, were identified.
Host–parasite relationships are likely to be impacted by conservation management practices, potentially increasing the susceptibility of wildlife to emerging disease. Cryptosporidium, a parasitic protozoan genus comprising host-adapted and host-specific species, was used as an indicator of parasite movement between populations of a threatened marsupial, the brush-tailed rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillata). PCR screening of faecal samples (n = 324) from seven wallaby populations across New South Wales, identified Cryptosporidium in 7.1% of samples. The sampled populations were characterised as captive, supplemented and wild populations. No significant difference was found in Cryptosporidium detection between each of the three population categories. The positive samples, detected using 18S rRNA screening, were amplified using the actin and gp60 loci. Multi-locus sequence analysis revealed the presence of Cryptosporidium fayeri, a marsupial-specific species, and C. meleagridis, which has a broad host range, in samples from the three population categories. Cryptosporidium meleagridis has not been previously reported in marsupials and hence the pathogenicity of this species to brush-tailed rock-wallabies is unknown. Based on these findings, we recommend further study into Cryptosporidium in animals undergoing conservation management, as well as surveying wild animals in release areas, to further understand the diversity and epidemiology of this parasite in threatened wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke T. Vermeulen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
- Corresponding author. Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia. Tel.: +61 2 9850 9259; fax: +61 2 9850 8245.
| | - Deborah L. Ashworth
- Office of Environment and Heritage, PO Box 1967, Hurstville, NSW 2220, Australia
| | - Mark D.B. Eldridge
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Michelle L. Power
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
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Wang T, Chen Z, Yu H, Xie Y, Gu X, Lai W, Peng X, Yang G. Prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in captive lesser panda (Ailurus fulgens) in China. Parasitol Res 2015; 114:773-6. [PMID: 25563613 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-4290-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2014] [Accepted: 12/23/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Cryptosporidium is a global epidemic parasite and one of the most important intestinal pathogens causing diarrhea in animals and humans. Despite extensive research on this parasite group, little is known about rates of Cryptosporidium infection in lesser pandas. In this study, we use molecular diagnostic tools to detect Cryptosporidium infections and identify Cryptosporidium species in the lesser panda. Using a PCR approach, we sequenced the 18S rRNA gene in fecal samples collected from 110 captive lesser pandas held throughout China (approximately one third of the captive population). We determined Cryptosporidium species via a BLAST comparison of our sequences against those of published Cryptosporidium sequences available in GenBank and subsequent phylogenetic analysis. We report that captive lesser pandas were infected with a single Cryptosporidium species, Cryptosporidium andersoni, at a prevalence of 6.36 % (7/110). The present investigation revealed the existence of C. andersoni infection in captive lesser panda and suggested that proper control measures should be taken carefully to protect the welfare of zoo workers and visitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Wang
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, No.46, Xingkang Road, Yucheng District, Ya'an, 625014, China
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Sak B, Petrželková KJ, Květoňová D, Mynářová A, Pomajbíková K, Modrý D, Cranfield MR, Mudakikwa A, Kváč M. Diversity of microsporidia, Cryptosporidium and Giardia in mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. PLoS One 2014; 9:e109751. [PMID: 25386754 PMCID: PMC4227647 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2014] [Accepted: 09/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infectious diseases represent the greatest threats to endangered species, and transmission from humans to wildlife under increased anthropogenic pressure has been always stated as a major risk of habituation. AIMS To evaluate the impact of close contact with humans on the occurrence of potentially zoonotic protists in great apes, one hundred mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) from seven groups habituated either for tourism or for research in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda were screened for the presence of microsporidia, Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. using molecular diagnostics. RESULTS The most frequently detected parasites were Enterocytozoon bieneusi found in 18 samples (including genotype EbpA, D, C, gorilla 2 and five novel genotypes gorilla 4-8) and Encephalitozoon cuniculi with genotype II being more prevalent (10 cases) compared to genotype I (1 case). Cryptosporidium muris (2 cases) and C. meleagridis (2 cases) were documented in great apes for the first time. Cryptosporidium sp. infections were identified only in research groups and occurrence of E. cuniculi in research groups was significantly higher in comparison to tourist groups. No difference in prevalence of E. bieneusi was observed between research and tourist groups. CONCLUSION Although our data showed the presence and diversity of important opportunistic protists in Volcanoes gorillas, the source and the routes of the circulation remain unknown. Repeated individual sampling, broad sampling of other hosts sharing the habitat with gorillas and quantification of studied protists would be necessary to acquire more complex data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bohumil Sak
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Klára J. Petrželková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Brno, Czech Republic
- Liberec Zoo, Liberec, Czech Republic
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Dana Květoňová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Mynářová
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Pomajbíková
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - David Modrý
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michael R. Cranfield
- Gorilla Doctors, Karen C Drayer Wildlife Health Center, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Martin Kváč
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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Cryptosporidiumspecies in humans and animals: current understanding and research needs. Parasitology 2014; 141:1667-85. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182014001085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 402] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYCryptosporidiumis increasingly recognized as one of the major causes of moderate to severe diarrhoea in developing countries. With treatment options limited, control relies on knowledge of the biology and transmission of the members of the genus responsible for disease. Currently, 26 species are recognized as valid on the basis of morphological, biological and molecular data. Of the nearly 20Cryptosporidiumspecies and genotypes that have been reported in humans,Cryptosporidium hominisandCryptosporidium parvumare responsible for the majority of infections. Livestock, particularly cattle, are one of the most important reservoirs of zoonotic infections. Domesticated and wild animals can each be infected with severalCryptosporidiumspecies or genotypes that have only a narrow host range and therefore have no major public health significance. Recent advances in next-generation sequencing techniques will significantly improve our understanding of the taxonomy and transmission ofCryptosporidiumspecies, and the investigation of outbreaks and monitoring of emerging and virulent subtypes. Important research gaps remain including a lack of subtyping tools for manyCryptosporidiumspecies of public and veterinary health importance, and poor understanding of the genetic determinants of host specificity ofCryptosporidiumspecies and impact of climate change on the transmission ofCryptosporidium.
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Liu X, Zhou X, Zhong Z, Chen W, Deng J, Niu L, Wang Q, Peng G. New subtype of Cryptosporidium cuniculus isolated from rabbits by sequencing the Gp60 gene. J Parasitol 2014; 100:532-6. [PMID: 24628387 DOI: 10.1645/13-223.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Given the paucity of literature available on rabbits infected with Cryptosporidium in Sichuan Province (China), 290 fecal samples were collected from rabbits in the animal house of Sichuan Agricultural University, China and examined for Cryptosporidium oocysts using the Sheather's sucrose flotation technique and a modified acid-fast staining method. Three samples tested positive (prevalence = 1.03%). The positive isolates were genotyped by sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA, HSP70, COWP, and Cp135 genes and characterized by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the 18S rRNA gene. Phylogenetic analysis was established using the neighbor-joining (NJ) method. All the isolates were identified as Cryptosporidium cuniculus. Further subtyping of the positive isolates was performed by DNA sequencing of the 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene. Only 1 subtype family was detected, Va, which was proposed to be a new subtype, VaA31. This study is the first report about the prevalence, genetic identification, and Cp135 gene of C. cuniculus in rabbits in Sichuan Province, China. The obtained results indicate that the C. cuniculus subtype in rabbits in Sichuan Province is unique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuehan Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
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Němejc K, Sak B, Květoňová D, Hanzal V, Janiszewski P, Forejtek P, Rajský D, Ravaszová P, McEvoy J, Kváč M. Cryptosporidium suis and Cryptosporidium scrofarum in Eurasian wild boars (Sus scrofa) in Central Europe. Vet Parasitol 2013; 197:504-8. [PMID: 23916060 PMCID: PMC4437658 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2013] [Revised: 06/10/2013] [Accepted: 07/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
From 2011 to 2012, to identify Cryptosporidium spp. occurrence in Eurasian wild boars (Sus scrofa) 29 randomly selected localities (both forest areas and enclosures) across the Central European countries of Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and the Slovak Republic were investigated. Cryptosporidium oocysts were microscopicaly detected in 11 out of 460 faecal samples examined using aniline-carbol-methyl violet staining. Sixty-one Cryptosporidium infections, including the 11 infections that were detected by microscopy, were detected using genus- or species-specific nested PCR amplification of SSU rDNA. This represents a 5.5 fold greater sensitivity for PCR relative to microscopy. Combining genus- and species-specific PCR tools significantly changes the perspective on the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. in wild boars. While RFLP and direct sequencing of genus specific PCR-amplified products revealed 56 C. suis (20) and C. scrofarum (36) monoinfections and only 5 mixed infections of these species, species-specific molecular tools showed 44 monoinfections and 17 mixed infections with these species. PCR analysis of the gp60 gene did not reveal any other Cryptosporidium infections. Similar to domestic pigs, C. scrofarum was detected as a dominant species infecting adult Eurasian wild boars (Sus scrofa). Cryptosporidium infected wild boars did not show signs of clinical disease. This report is perhaps the most comprehensive survey of cryptosporidial infection in wild boars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karel Němejc
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Studentská 13, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Bohumil Sak
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Dana Květoňová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimír Hanzal
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Studentská 13, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 21 Prague 6 – Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - Paweł Janiszewski
- Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury, M. Oczapowskiego 5, 10-718 Olsztyn-Kortowo, Poland
| | - Pavel Forejtek
- Institute for Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Dušan Rajský
- Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, T. G. Masaryka 2117/24, 960 53 Zvolen, Slovak Republic
| | - Petra Ravaszová
- Department of Biology and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - John McEvoy
- Department of Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
| | - Martin Kváč
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Studentská 13, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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Gastroenteritis caused by the Cryptosporidium hedgehog genotype in an immunocompetent man. J Clin Microbiol 2013; 52:347-9. [PMID: 24131692 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.02456-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Cryptosporidium hedgehog genotype, which has been reported previously in hedgehogs and horses, was identified as the cause of the diarrheal disease cryptosporidiosis in an immunocompetent man in the Czech Republic. This is the first report of human illness caused by the Cryptosporidium hedgehog genotype.
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Šlapeta J. Cryptosporidiosis and Cryptosporidium species in animals and humans: a thirty colour rainbow? Int J Parasitol 2013; 43:957-70. [PMID: 23973380 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2013.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2013] [Revised: 07/29/2013] [Accepted: 07/31/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Parasites of the genus Cryptosporidium (Apicomplexa) cause cryptosporidiosis in humans and animals worldwide. The species names used for Cryptosporidium spp. are confusing for parasitologists and even more so for non-specialists. Here, 30 named species of the genus Cryptosporidium are reviewed and proposed as valid. Molecular and experimental evidence suggests that humans and cattle are the hosts for 14 and 13 out of 30 named species, respectively. Two, four and eight named species are considered of major, moderate and minor public health significance, respectively. There are at least nine named species that are shared between humans and cattle. The aim of this review is to outline available species information together with the most commonly used genetic markers enabling the identification of named Cryptosporidium spp. Currently, 28 of 30 named species can be identified using the complete or partial ssrRNA, serving as a retrospective 'barcode'. Currently, the ssrRNA satisfies the implicit assumption that the reference databases used for comparison are sufficiently complete and applicable across the whole genus. However, due to unreliable annotation in public DNA repositories, the reference nucleotide entries and alignment of named Cryptosporidium spp. has been compiled. Despite its known limitations, ssrRNA remains the optimal marker for species identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Šlapeta
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, McMaster Building B14, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.
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Sak B, Petrzelkova KJ, Kvetonova D, Mynarova A, Shutt KA, Pomajbikova K, Kalousova B, Modry D, Benavides J, Todd A, Kvac M. Long-term monitoring of microsporidia, Cryptosporidium and Giardia infections in western Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) at different stages of habituation in Dzanga Sangha Protected Areas, Central African Republic. PLoS One 2013; 8:e71840. [PMID: 23951255 PMCID: PMC3737207 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2013] [Accepted: 07/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infectious diseases pose one of the greatest threats to endangered species, and a risk of gastrointestinal parasite transmission from humans to wildlife has always been considered as a major concern of tourism. Increased anthropogenic impact on primate populations may result in general changes in communities of their parasites, and also in a direct exchange of parasites between humans and primates. AIMS To evaluate the impact of close contact with humans on the occurrence of potentially zoonotic protists in great apes, we conducted a long-term monitoring of microsporidia, Cryptosporidium and Giardia infections in western lowland gorillas at different stages of the habituation process, humans, and other wildlife in Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas in the Central African Republic. RESULTS We detected Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotypes I and II (7.5%), Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotype D and three novel genotypes (gorilla 1-3) (4.0%), Giardia intestinalis subgroup A II (2.0%) and Cryptosporidium bovis (0.5%) in gorillas, whereas in humans we found only G. intestinalis subgroup A II (2.1%). In other wild and domestic animals we recorded E. cuniculi genotypes I and II (2.1%), G. intestinalis assemblage E (0.5%) and C. muris TS03 (0.5%). CONCLUSION Due to the non-specificity of E. cuniculi genotypes we conclude that detection of the exact source of E. cuniculi infection is problematic. As Giardia intestinalis was recorded primarily in gorilla groups with closer human contact, we suggest that human-gorilla transmission has occurred. We call attention to a potentially negative impact of habituation on selected pathogens which might occur as a result of the more frequent presence of humans in the vicinity of both gorillas under habituation and habituated gorillas, rather than as a consequence of the close contact with humans, which might be a more traditional assumption. We encourage to observe the sections concerning hygiene from the IUCN best practice guidelines for all sites where increased human-gorilla contact occurs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bohumil Sak
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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Nolan MJ, Jex AR, Koehler AV, Haydon SR, Stevens MA, Gasser RB. Molecular-based investigation of Cryptosporidium and Giardia from animals in water catchments in southeastern Australia. WATER RESEARCH 2013; 47:1726-1740. [PMID: 23357792 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2012.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2012] [Revised: 12/10/2012] [Accepted: 12/14/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
There has been no large-scale systematic molecular epidemiological investigation of the waterborne protozoans, Cryptosporidium or Giardia, in southeastern Australia. Here, we explored, for the first time, the genetic composition of these genera in faecal samples from animals in nine Melbourne Water reservoir areas, collected over a period of two-years. We employed PCR-based single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and phylogenetic analyses of loci (pSSU and pgp60) in the small subunit (SSU) of ribosomal RNA and 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60) genes to detect and characterise Cryptosporidium, and another locus (ptpi) in the triose-phosphate isomerase (tpi) gene to identify and characterise Giardia. Cryptosporidium was detected in 2.8% of the 2009 samples examined; the analysis of all amplicons defined 14 distinct sequence types for each of pSSU and pgp60, representing Cryptosporidium hominis (genotype Ib - subgenotype IbA10G2R2), Cryptosporidium parvum (genotype IIa - subgenotypes IIaA15G2R1, IIaA19G2R1, IIaA19G3R1, IIaA19G4R1, IIaA20G3R1, IIaA20G4R1, IIaA20G3R2 and IIaA21G3R1), Cryptosporidium cuniculus (genotype Vb - subgenotypes VbA22R4, VbA23R3, VbA24R3, VbA25R4 and VbA26R4), and Cryptosporidium canis, Cryptosporidium fayeri, Cryptosporidium macropodum and Cryptosporidium ubiquitum as well as six new pSSU sequence types. In addition, Giardia was identified in 3.4% of the samples; all 28 distinct ptpi sequence types defined were linked to assemblage A of Giardia duodenalis. Of all 56 sequence types characterised, eight and one have been recorded previously in Cryptosporidium and Giardia, respectively, from humans. In contrast, nothing is known about the zoonotic potential of 35 new genotypes of Cryptosporidium and Giardia recorded here for the first time. Future work aims to focus on estimating the prevalence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia genotypes in humans and a wide range of animals in Victoria and elsewhere in Australia. (Nucleotide sequences reported in this paper are available in the GenBank database under accession nos. KC282952-KC283005).
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Nolan
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
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Human cryptosporidiosis caused by Cryptosporidium tyzzeri and C. parvum isolates presumably transmitted from wild mice. J Clin Microbiol 2012; 51:360-2. [PMID: 23100342 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.02346-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We report a case of severe human cryptosporidiosis caused by Cryptosporidium tyzzeri and C. parvum with an unusually high frequency of liquid stools. Wild mice were the most likely source of infection, demonstrating the potential for wild-mouse-borne Cryptosporidium to infect humans and highlighting the health risks associated with synantropic rodents.
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Abstract
Cryptosporidium is an important enteric parasite that is transmitted via the fecal-oral route, water and food. Humans, wildlife and domestic livestock all potentially contribute Cryptosporidium to surface waters. Most species of Cryptosporidium are morphologically indistinguishable and can only be identified using molecular tools. Over 24 species have been identified and of these, 7 Cryptosporidium species/genotypes are responsible for most human cryptosporidiosis cases. In Australia, relatively few genotyping studies have been conducted. Six Cryptosporidium species (C. hominis, C. parvum, C. meleagridis, C. fayeri, C. andersoni and C. bovis) have been identified in humans in Australia. However, little is known about the contribution of animal hosts to human pathogenic strains of Cryptosporidium in drinking water catchments. In this review, we focus on the available genotyping data for native, feral and domestic animals inhabiting drinking water catchments in Australia to provide an improved understanding of the public health implications and to identify key research gaps.
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Paparini A, Jackson B, Ward S, Young S, Ryan UM. Multiple Cryptosporidium genotypes detected in wild black rats (Rattus rattus) from northern Australia. Exp Parasitol 2012; 131:404-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2012.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2012] [Revised: 05/11/2012] [Accepted: 05/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Zhang W, Shen Y, Wang R, Liu A, Ling H, Li Y, Cao J, Zhang X, Shu J, Zhang L. Cryptosporidium cuniculus and Giardia duodenalis in rabbits: genetic diversity and possible zoonotic transmission. PLoS One 2012; 7:e31262. [PMID: 22363600 PMCID: PMC3281947 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2011] [Accepted: 01/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cryptosporidium and Giardia are the two important zoonotic pathogens causing diarrhea of humans and animals worldwide. Considering the human cryptosporidiosis outbreak and sporadic cases caused by C. cuniculus, the important public health significance of G. duodenalis and little obtained information regarding rabbit infected with Cryptosporidium and Giardia in China, the aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and molecularly characterize Cryptosporidium and Giardia in rabbits in Heilongjiang Province, China. Methodology/Principal Findings 378 fecal samples were obtained from rabbits in Heilongjiang Province. Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts were detected using Sheather's sugar flotation technique and Lugol's iodine stain method, respectively. The infection rates of Cryptosporidium and Giardia were 2.38% (9/378) and 7.41% (28/378), respectively. Genotyping of Cryptosporidium spp. was done by DNA sequencing of the small subunit rRNA (SSU rRNA) gene and all the nine isolates were identified as Cryptosporidium cuniculus. The nine isolates were further subtyped using the 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene and two subtypes were detected, including VbA32 (n = 3) and a new subtype VbA21 (n = 6). G. duodenalis genotypes and subtypes were identified by sequence analysis of the triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) gene. The assemblage B (belonging to eight different subtypes B-I to B-VIII) was found in 28 G. duodenalis-positive samples. Conclusions/Significance The rabbits have been infected with Cryptosporidium and Giardia in Heilongjiang Province. The results show that the rabbits pose a threat to human health in the studied areas. Genotypes and subgenotypes of C. cuniculus and G. duodenalis in this study might present the endemic genetic characterization of population structure of the two parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weizhe Zhang
- Department of Parasitology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Yujuan Shen
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ministry of Health, World Health Organization, Collaborating Centre for Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Filariasis, Shanghai, China
| | - Rongjun Wang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Aiqin Liu
- Department of Parasitology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
- * E-mail: (AL); (LZ)
| | - Hong Ling
- Department of Parasitology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Yihong Li
- Department of Parasitology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Jianping Cao
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ministry of Health, World Health Organization, Collaborating Centre for Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Filariasis, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoyun Zhang
- Department of Parasitology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Jing Shu
- Department of Parasitology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Longxian Zhang
- Department of Parasitology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ministry of Health, World Health Organization, Collaborating Centre for Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Filariasis, Shanghai, China
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- * E-mail: (AL); (LZ)
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Molecular epidemiology and spatial distribution of a waterborne cryptosporidiosis outbreak in Australia. Appl Environ Microbiol 2011; 77:7766-71. [PMID: 21908623 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00616-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidiosis is one of the most common waterborne diseases reported worldwide. Outbreaks of this gastrointestinal disease, which is caused by the Cryptosporidium parasite, are often attributed to public swimming pools and municipal water supplies. Between the months of January and April in 2009, New South Wales, Australia, experienced the largest waterborne cryptosporidiosis outbreak reported in Australia to date. Through the course of the contamination event, 1,141 individuals became infected with Cryptosporidium. Health authorities in New South Wales indicated that public swimming pool use was a contributing factor in the outbreak. To identify the Cryptosporidium species responsible for the outbreak, fecal samples from infected patients were collected from hospitals and pathology companies throughout New South Wales for genetic analyses. Genetic characterization of Cryptosporidium oocysts from the fecal samples identified the anthroponotic Cryptosporidium hominis IbA10G2 subtype as the causative parasite. Equal proportions of infections were found in males and females, and an increased susceptibility was observed in the 0- to 4-year age group. Spatiotemporal analysis indicated that the outbreak was primarily confined to the densely populated coastal cities of Sydney and Newcastle.
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Molecular epidemiology, spatiotemporal analysis, and ecology of sporadic human cryptosporidiosis in Australia. Appl Environ Microbiol 2011; 77:7757-65. [PMID: 21908628 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00615-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasites from the Cryptosporidium genus are the most common cause of waterborne disease around the world. Successful management and prevention of this emerging disease requires knowledge of the diversity of species causing human disease and their zoonotic sources. This study employed a spatiotemporal approach to investigate sporadic human cryptosporidiosis in New South Wales, Australia, between January 2008 and December 2010. Analysis of 261 human fecal samples showed that sporadic human cryptosporidiosis is caused by four species; C. hominis, C. parvum, C. andersoni, and C. fayeri. Sequence analysis of the gp60 gene identified 5 subtype families and 31 subtypes. Cryptosporidium hominis IbA10G2 and C. parvum IIaA18G3R1 were the most frequent causes of human cryptosporidiosis in New South Wales, with 59% and 16% of infections, respectively, attributed to them. The results showed that infections were most prevalent in 0- to 4-year-olds. No gender bias or regional segregation was observed between the distribution of C. hominis and C. parvum infections. To determine the role of cattle in sporadic human infections in New South Wales, 205 cattle fecal samples were analyzed. Four Cryptosporidium species were identified, C. hominis, C. parvum, C. bovis, and C. ryanae. C. parvum subtype IIaA18G3R1 was the most common cause of cryptosporidiosis in cattle, with 47% of infections attributed to it. C. hominis subtype IbA10G2 was also identified in cattle isolates.
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Waldron L, Power M. Fluorescence analysis detects gp60 subtype diversity in Cryptosporidium infections. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2011; 11:1388-95. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2011.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2011] [Revised: 05/05/2011] [Accepted: 05/06/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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