Distribution and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium species or genotypes in four species of farmed animals from Hainan Island of China

ABSTRACT

Objective: To assess the infection status of Cryptosporidium spp. in the four common species of farmed animal (pigs, cattle, goats and geese) in the Hainan Island of China, followed by molecular characterization of the parasite. Methods: During March to July 2019, 864 DNA were extracted from the fecal samples of 188 pigs, 341 goats, 130 cattle, and 169 geese which were collectd from four, five, six, and three cities of the Hainan Province, China, respectively. The species/genotypes and subtypes of Cryptosporidium were identified by employing nested-PCR amplification of the SSU rRNA and the 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) genes of the parasite, respectively. Results: Cryptosporidium was identified in 68 (7.9%) out of 864 animals, with 45 (13.2%) goats, 13 (6.9%) pigs, 4 (3.1%) cattle, and 6 (3.6%) geese. Cryptosporidium (C.) xiaoi (n=24) and C. ubiqutium (n=21) were identified in goats; C. suis (n=7) and C. scrofarum (n=6) in pigs; C. parvum (n=3) and C. occultus (n=1) in cattle; and C. baileyi (n=1) and Cryptosporidium goose genotype I(n=3) in geese. The 21 C. ubiqutium isolates shared a same subtype XII a, and the subtype of three C. parvum was II dA15G1. Conclusions: We present for the prevalence of the Cryptosporidium in cattle, goats, pigs and geese from the Hainan Island of China for the first time. The molecular characterization of the Cryptosporidium isolates obtained here propose that the goats, cattle and pigs are potential sources of C. ubiqutium, C. parvum, and C. suis infections, in humans.