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Huang JM, Chen HL, Zhou YK, Wang S, Ren Q, Fang Z, Li HH, Zheng KL, Liu XC, Gu YF, Li WC. The first report of Cryptosporidium testudinis in Chinese alligators (Alligator sinensis) in China. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:2359-2362. [PMID: 32500368 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06733-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Several Cryptosporidium species that infect reptiles, especially squamates, are well described, but there is limited data about Cryptosporidium species infecting crocodilians. In this study, we assess the occurrence of intestinal parasites using traditional microscopic examination and describe the prevalence and Cryptosporidium species in the captive-bred Chinese alligators (Alligator sinensis) in eastern China using molecular methods. The results of microscopic examination showed that no intestinal parasites were detected among the 491 fecal samples examined from the Chinese alligators. The overall prevalence for Cryptosporidium was 0.41% (2/491) by PCR detection using the SSU rRNA locus. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the SSU rRNA, COWP, and actin genes revealed the presence of Cryptosporidium testudinis, which has been isolated primarily from chelonians. This is the first detection of the specific DNA of C. testudinis in the feces of the Chinese alligator. This study expands our knowledge of the Cryptosporidium species involved in crocodiles, and more extensive studies are necessary to confirm the validity of C. testudinis in crocodiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Min Huang
- College of Animal Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, 233100, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui-Liang Chen
- College of Animal Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, 233100, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong-Kang Zhou
- Anhui Chinese Alligator National Natural Reserve Administration, Xuancheng, 242000, People's Republic of China
| | - Song Wang
- College of Life and Health Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, 233100, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Ren
- College of Animal Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, 233100, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhui Fang
- College of Animal Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, 233100, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui-Hong Li
- College of Animal Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, 233100, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke-Lei Zheng
- College of Animal Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, 233100, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin-Chao Liu
- College of Animal Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, 233100, People's Republic of China
| | - You-Fang Gu
- College of Animal Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, 233100, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen-Chao Li
- College of Animal Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, 233100, People's Republic of China.
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