Atwill ER, Camargo SM, Phillips R, Alonso LH, Tate KW, Jensen WA, Bennet J, Little S, Salmon TP. Quantitative shedding of two genotypes of Cryptosporidium parvum in California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi).
Appl Environ Microbiol 2001;
67:2840-3. [PMID:
11375204 PMCID:
PMC92948 DOI:
10.1128/aem.67.6.2840-2843.2001]
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Abstract
Sixteen percent of California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi) were found to be shedding an average of 53,875 Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts/g of feces. Male squirrels had a higher prevalence and higher intensity of shedding than did female squirrels. The majority of C. parvum isolates matched a bovine-murine genotype, with a few isolates resembling a porcine genotype. Higher intensities of shedding by males may enhance dissemination and genotypic mixing of this protozoa given males' proclivity to disperse to nonnatal colonies.
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