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Phylogenetic relationship of the five gene loci of Cryptosporidium species/genotypes. The Panel A to E are represent the actin, gp60, HSP70, COWP and SSU rDNA gene, respectively. The numbers on the branches are percent bootstrapping values from 1000 replicates. Each sequence is identified by its accession number and Cryptosporidium species/genotypes designation. The triangle filled in black indicate the subtypes identified in this study.
Source publication
Cryptosporidium is one of the most prevalent zoonotic parasites and is responsible for the high burden of diarrheal disease across the globe. Rodents are globally overpopulated and are reservoirs for a variety of zoonotic pathogens. Bamboo rats are a common species of rodent that are bred for meat and wool in China. However, the genetic characteriz...
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Context 1
... further subtyped by sequence analysis of the gp60 gene, and the two C. parvum and the Cryptosporidium bamboo rat genotype II were successfully amplified. However, the five isolates of Cryptosporidium bamboo rat genotype I were amplification failure. Phylogenetic analysis of the gp60 sequences suggested that they belong to three subtype families (Fig. 1). Sequences of the two C. parvum isolates had 100% similarity with subtype IIpA9 (KC885904) which was isolated from a bamboo rat from Sichuan, and IIdA15G1 (KJ917586) which was found in a monkey from Shaanxi of China, respectively. The gp60 sequence of the Cryptosporidium bamboo rat genotype II (Genebank number MK731966) had a maximum ...
Context 2
... parvum from human in Canada (DQ389176). For actin gene only two bamboo rat genotype I isolates were successfully amplified, and the two isolates shared a same sequence which had 95.5% similarity with that of C. ubiquitum from human in USA (XM_029019099). Phylogenetic analysis of the actin, gp60, HSP70, COWP and SSU rDNA gene sequences showed in Fig. ...
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To date, information on Cryptosporidium spp. infection status among people and wild animals living at the wildlife-human interface such as Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) is scarce. The aim of this study is to document the molecular detection of Cryptosporidium spp. in wild animals, and people, around QENP in the Kasese District. A total of 30...
Citations
... The positive rate of Cryptosporidium spp. were 2.5% (10/399) in Himalayan marmots, 1.0% (1/99) in Alashan ground squirrels [11], 1.4% (4/287) in Red-bellied tree squirrels [11], 2.1% (9/435) in Bamboo rats [12], 6.5% (11/168) in Brown rats [13], and 6.3% (4/64) in Plateau pikas [8], respectively. ...
Background
Cryptosporidium, as intestinal protozoa, have been widely reported in wildlife, livestock and humans. Mongolian pika (Ochotona pallasi) live at high altitudes along the China-mongolia borderline, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR, northwestern China). However, little information is available on the prevalence and characterization of Cryptosporidium in Ochotonidae worldwide, especially in Mongolian pika. The aim of this study was to investigate Cryptosporidium in the Mongolian pika at China-mongolia border of China.
Methods
In present study, eighty-three intestinal content specimens were collected from 15 sampling sites in XUAR (2021–2023). The 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene of all samples were amplified using nested PCR and sequenced.
Results
A total of 12 samples were positive for Cryptosporidium. Moreover, four known species, Cryptosporidium canis, C. ubiquitum, C. ryanae, and C. sp yak, and a novel Cryptosporidium species, here named as Cryptosporidium sp. Mongolian pika, were also identified.
Conclusions
The findings indicated that Mongolian pika is an important reservoir host for multiple Cryptosporidium species, which is potentially circulated among Mongolian pikas, ruminants and carnivors in this alpine region, China-mongolia border of China.
... velata occurs only in species of Mus) obtained in the Southern mole vole, Ellobius fuscocapillus (Blyth, 1843), collected from north Khorasan province of northeast Iran. Finally in 2017,Chaisiri et al. (2017), during an ecological study of host-parasite associations, reported Mammalakis spumosa (Schneider, 1866) from Rhizomys pruinosus in Cambodia.Wei et al. (2019) reported Cryptosporidium parvum Tyzzer, 1912 and C. occultus Kváč, 2018 found in the Chinese bamboo rat, Rhizomys sinensis, collected from southcentral China.Dursahinhan et al. (2022) described Arostrilepis batsaikhani from the Zaisan mole vole, Ellobius tancrei collected from Baitag Bogd, Hovd province, western Mongolia. ...
Published studies and ten new unpublished records included herein reveal that approximately 174 species of endoparasites (helminths and protozoans) are known from 65 of 163 species of rodents that occupy the subterranean ecotope globally. Of those, 94 endoparasite species were originally described from these rodents. A total of 282 host-parasite associations are summarized from four major zoogeographic regions including Ethiopian, Palearctic/Oriental, Nearctic, and Neotropical. Thirty-four parasite records from the literature have been identified to only the level of the genus. In this summary, ten new records have been added, and the most current taxonomic status of each parasite species is noted. Interestingly, there are no data on endoparasites from more than 68% of described subterranean rodents, which indicates that discovery and documentation are at an early stage and must continue.
... The nucleotide sequences of the SSU rRNA gene from C. parvum were identical to each other and to the reference (3) IIpA9 (2) sequences KC885894, MK731961, MK956932 and MW092529 obtained from bamboo rats in various areas in China (Liu et al., 2015;Wei et al., 2019;Li et al., 2020a;Li et al., 2020b). It had an A-to-T nucleotide substitution in the hypervariable region from sequences from the common C. parvum in humans, cattle and other animals as described previously (Li et al., 2020a). ...
... Two subtypes were seen in the six C. parvum samples subtyped successfully, including IIdA15G1 (in one fecal sample collected in April 2018) and IIpA9 (in three fecal and two water samples collected in March 2013). The sequences of IIpA9 were identical to KC885904 and other gp60 sequences obtained from bamboo rats in China (Liu et al., 2015;Wei et al., 2019;Li et al., 2020a). ...
... Although the C. hominis subtype IfA17G2R3 detected in a few monkeys in 2019 was seen in one monkey in 2010, it had generated SSU rRNA sequences identical to those seen in subtypes in NHPs (Feng et al., 2018;Chen et al., 2019). The IIp subtype of C. parvum identified in a few monkeys in the present study also has unique SSU rRNA sequences and represents a well-known host-adapted pathogen in bamboo rats in China (Liu et al., 2015;Feng et al., 2018;Wei et al., 2019;Li et al., 2020a;Li et al., 2020b). The nucleotide differences in the SSU rRNA sequences of C. hominis and C. parvum in rhesus monkeys over the time in the park, might be due to genetic recombination driven by host-adaptive evolution (Feng et al., 2018). ...
Nonhuman primates (NHPs) are considered an important source of parasitic zoonoses. A study in 2010 revealed high prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in free-ranging rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) in a public park in Guiyang, southwestern China, which called for the control of disease in animals and long-term epidemiological tracking of Cryptosporidium spp. After the initiation of a series of public health interventions, we collected 2,402 fecal samples from monkeys and 123 water samples from lakes in the park on six occasions during 2013-2019. They were analyzed and genotyped for Cryptosporidium spp. using PCR and sequence analyses of the small subunit rRNA gene. The C. hominis and C. parvum identified were further subtyped by sequence analysis of the 60 kDa glycoprotein gene. Compared with the high prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in fecal samples (10.9% or 45/411) and water samples (47.8% or 11/23) in 2010, only 18 (0.7%) fecal samples and 3 (2.4%) water samples collected in the present study were positive for Cryptosporidium spp., including C. hominis (n = 9) and C. parvum (n = 12). The former belonged to the NHP-adapted IfA17G2R3 subtype, while the latter mostly belonged to rodent-adapted IIpA9. Therefore, the detection rate and genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. during this study period were much lower than those before the public health interventions, and there was a switch from common occurrence of anthroponotic C. hominis subtypes to sporadic occurrence of NHP-adapted C. hominis and rodent-adapted C. parvum subtypes.
... Another unique feature of C. parvum in China is the broad host range of its IId subtypes. In addition to infecting dairy calves, IId subtypes are found in other ruminants (sheep, goats, yaks, takins, and several species of deer), camelids (camels and alpacas), equine animals (horses and donkeys), carnivores (minks), non-human primates (rhesus and crab-eating macaques), and various rodents [34,[41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51]. As the common hosts of C. parvum subtypes, rodents are thought to be the initial source of IId subtypes in dairy calves and other farm animals [34]. ...
... As the common hosts of C. parvum subtypes, rodents are thought to be the initial source of IId subtypes in dairy calves and other farm animals [34]. This is probably exacerbated in recent years by the farming of several species of rodent such as hamsters, chipmunks, and bamboo rats, which are commonly infected with C. parvum IId subtypes [46]. The reduced number of subtypes present in dairy calves and epidemic population structure of IId subtypes in China support the theory of recent population expansion of C. parvum in farm animals [52]. ...
Zoonotic cryptosporidiosis is a major public health problem in industrialized nations; in those countries it is caused mainly by Cryptosporidium parvum IIa subtypes that are prevalent in dairy calves. Because of the short history of intensive animal farming in China, strains of C. parvum are found only on some dairy farms in this country and are the IId subtypes. However, the prevalence of C. parvum is increasing rapidly, with IIa subtypes recently detected in a few grazing animals, and both IIa and IId subtypes are emerging in humans. As animal farming intensifies, China may follow in the footsteps of industrialized nations where zoonotic cryptosporidiosis is rampant. One Health and biosecurity measures are urgently needed to slow down the dispersal of autochthonous IId subtypes and imported IIa subtypes.
... These species have been detected in rodents in Slovakia, China, and the Philippines; rodents may not be natural hosts for C. scrofarum and may have been infected as a result of mechanical transmission. C. occultus has a wide host range, mostly parasitizing rats genetically related to bamboo rats [46,49,50,52]. C. canis is the predominant species responsible for companion animal cryptosporidiosis, and the species has recently been reported in humans. C. ditrichi seems to be quite restricted to Apodemus spp. in Europe. ...
... Most rodent species and genotypes are host-specific or have narrow host ranges. Specific associations include C. myocastoris in nutrias [42]; C. proliferans in moles [46]; C. alticolis, C. microti, and vole genotypes I-VII in voles [29,35,37,54]; C. apodemi in mice [37,64]; C. homai and C. wrairi in guinea pigs [40,45,47,82]; C. rubeyi and squirrel genotypes I-III in ground squirrels [55,77]; C. ratti and mouse genotype II in rats [29,[43][44][45]; hamster genotype in pet hamsters [40,47]; bamboo rat genotypes I-III in bamboo rats [49,50], and apodemus genotypes I and II in Apodemus spp. [37,48]. ...
Cryptosporidium is one of the most important genera of intestinal zoonotic pathogens that cause diarrhea in both humans and animals. Rodents are common and important hosts or carriers of pathogens with public health importance, and rodents play an important role in the ecology of zoonotic transmission. The overall worldwide prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in rodents is 19.8% (4589/23142). Twenty-five known Cryptosporidium species and 43 genotypes have been identified, and C. parvum is the dominant species in rodents worldwide. Rodents transfer pathogens to humans by the direct route or by serving as intermediate hosts transmitting the pathogens to other animals. We review the epidemiology, diversity, and transmission routes of Cryptosporidium spp. in rodents. The main purpose of this review is to highlight Cryptosporidium infection in rodents and its transmission, associated risk factors, and prevention; in addition, we assess the public health and ecological significance of Cryptosporidium infections from the One Health perspective.
... To date, a total of 13 Cryptosporidium spp. species and 19 genotypes have been detected in 16 studies of various rodents in China, including those obtained in this study (Table 2) [19,[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][38][39][40]. Among them, 11 species have been detected in humans: C. parvum, C. muris, C. ubiquitum, C. andersoni, C. occultus, C. viatorum, C. canis, C. suis, C. erinaceid, C. tyzzeri and horse genotype 4. Indicating rodent species may play an important role in the transmission of zoonotic cryptosporidiosis. ...
Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis are common detected intestinal protozoa species in humans and animals, contributing to global gastroenteritis spread. In the present study, we examined the prevalence and zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis in two rodent species in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau area (QTPA) of China for the first time. A total of 498 intestinal content samples were collected from five counties of QTPA of Gansu province, China. Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis were found in 2.5% (10/399) and 1.5% (6/399) of Himalayan marmots, while in 1.0% (1/99) and 2.0% (2/99) of Alashan ground squirrels, respectively. Four Cryptosporidium genotypes were identified, including one known horse genotype (n=1) and three novel genotypes designated as marmot genotype I (n = 7), marmot genotype II (n = 2) and marmot genotype III (n = 1). The horse genotype was further subtyped as novel subtype VIbA10. G. duodenalis zoonotic assemblages A (n = 1), B (n = 6), E (n = 1) were identified in the present study. This is the first study to identify Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis in the two wild rodent species worldwide, suggesting the potential zoonotic transmission of the two pathogens in QTPA.
... It is one of the two most common Cryptosporidium species causing human cryptosporidiosis. Previously, at least 20 species of rodents, such as rats, mice, voles, and squirrels are known to be positive for C. parvum [9][10][11]19,23,26,[40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48]. In China, rodents are frequently infected with this species, and the prevailing subtype family IId in rodents is also commonly found in cattle and other livestock [49]. ...
Cryptosporidium spp. are common protozoan pathogens in mammals. With pet rodents being integrated into modern life, the potential roles of them in transmitting parasites to humans need assessments. In the present study, we examined the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. in pet rodents in Guangdong, south China. A total of 697 fecal samples were collected from 11 species of rodents in seven pet shops, one pet market and one farm. Cryptosporidium spp. were identified by PCR analysis of the small subunit rRNA gene. An overall infection rate of 36.9% (257/697) was obtained, with infection rates varying from 9.3% in chinchillas, 52.3% in guinea pigs, 57.1% in squirrels, to 68.4% in cricetid animals. Nine Cryptosporidium species and genotypes were identified, including C. wrairi (in 129 guinea pigs), C. andersoni (in 34 hamsters), C. homai (in 32 guinea pigs), Cryptosporidium hamster genotype (in 30 hamsters), C. ubiquitum (in 24 chinchillas and squirrels), C. parvum (in 2 chinchillas), Cryptosporidium ferret genotype (in 2 chipmunks), C. muris (in 1 hamster and 1 guinea pig), and Cryptosporidium chipmunk genotype V (in 1 chinchilla and 1 chipmunk). Sequence analysis of the 60 kDa glycoprotein gene identified three subtype families of C. ubiquitum, including family XIId in 15 chinchillas, XIIa in 5 chinchillas, and a new subtype family (XIIi) in 1 squirrel. The identification of C. parvum and C. ubiquitum in pet rodents suggests that these animals, especially chinchillas, could serve as reservoirs of human-pathogenic Cryptosporidium spp. Hygiene should be practiced in the rear and care of these animals, and One Health measures should be developed to reduce the occurrence of zoonotic Cryptosporidium infections due to contact with pet rodents.
... However, many species and genotypes of Cryptosporidium, particularly those infecting wild animals, do not cause clinical signs [3,4]. Genetic and biological studies have shown a high diversity within the genus Cryptosporidium, with much of this diversity observed in wildlife hosts [5][6][7][8][9][10]. To date, 47 valid species [11][12][13] and more than 100 genotypes, which are distinguished from valid species on the basis of molecular differences and probably represent separate species, have been described [2]. ...
Cryptosporidium spp., common parasites of vertebrates, remain poorly studied in wildlife. This study describes the novel Cryptosporidium species adapted to nutrias (Myocastor coypus). A total of 150 faecal samples of feral nutria were collected from locations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and examined for Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts and specific DNA at the SSU, actin, HSP70, and gp60 loci. Molecular analyses revealed the presence of C. parvum (n = 1), C. ubiquitum subtype family XIId (n = 5) and Cryptosporidium myocastoris n. sp. XXIIa (n = 2), and XXIIb (n = 3). Only nutrias positive for C. myocastoris shed microscopically detectable oocysts, which measured 4.8–5.2 × 4.7–5.0 µm, and oocysts were infectious for experimentally infected nutrias with a prepatent period of 5–6 days, although not for mice, gerbils, or chickens. The infection was localised in jejunum and ileum without observable macroscopic changes. The microvilli adjacent to attached stages responded by elongating. Clinical signs were not observed in naturally or experimentally infected nutrias. Phylogenetic analyses at SSU, actin, and HSP70 loci demonstrated that C. myocastoris n. sp. is distinct from other valid Cryptosporidium species.
... The C. parvum subtypes found in bamboo rats belong mostly to two divergent subtype families (IIo and IIp) of C. parvum, which are genetically related to the IId subtype family and have been thus far reported only in Asia Liu et al., 2015;Wei et al., 2019). Two subtypes of each subtype family have been identified in bamboo rats from various areas, including IIoA13G1, IIoA15G1, IIpA6 and IIpA9 (Li et al., , 2020bLiu et al., 2015;Wei et al., 2019). ...
... The C. parvum subtypes found in bamboo rats belong mostly to two divergent subtype families (IIo and IIp) of C. parvum, which are genetically related to the IId subtype family and have been thus far reported only in Asia Liu et al., 2015;Wei et al., 2019). Two subtypes of each subtype family have been identified in bamboo rats from various areas, including IIoA13G1, IIoA15G1, IIpA6 and IIpA9 (Li et al., , 2020bLiu et al., 2015;Wei et al., 2019). One bamboo rat was identified as having the C. parvum IIdA15G1 subtype (Wei et al., 2019). ...
... Two subtypes of each subtype family have been identified in bamboo rats from various areas, including IIoA13G1, IIoA15G1, IIpA6 and IIpA9 (Li et al., , 2020bLiu et al., 2015;Wei et al., 2019). One bamboo rat was identified as having the C. parvum IIdA15G1 subtype (Wei et al., 2019). ...
Several species of wild mammals are farmed in China as part of the rural development and poverty alleviation, including fur animals, bamboo rats, and macaque monkeys. Concerns have been raised on the potential dispersal of pathogens to humans and other farm animals brought in from native habitats. Numerous studies have been conducted on the genetic identity and public health potential of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in these newly farmed exotic animals. The data generated have shown a high prevalence of the pathogens in farmed wildlife, probably due to the stress from the short captivity and congregation of large numbers of susceptible animals. Host adaptation at species/genotype and subtype levels has reduced the potential for cross-species and zoonotic transmission of pathogens, but the farm environment appears to favor the transmission of some species, genotypes, and subtypes, with reduced pathogen diversity compared with their wild relatives. Most genotypes and subtypes of the pathogens detected appear to be brought in from their native habitats. A few of the subtypes have emerged as human pathogens. One Health measures should be developed to slow the dispersal of indigenous pathogens among farmed exotic animals and prevent their spillover to other farm animals and humans.
... They are commonly infected with Cryptosporidium spp. Several Cryptosporidium species and genotypes have been identified in these animals, including C. parvum, C. parvum-like genotype, C. occultus, and Cryptosporidium bamboo rat genotypes I and II [24,25]. Thus, the distribution of Cryptosporidium spp. in bamboo rats appears to be different from other rodents. ...
... In China, rodents such as hamsters, chipmunks, and rats are mostly infected with the IId subtype family of C. parvum, with IIdA15G1 and IIdA19G1 as the most common subtypes [26]. In contrast, bamboo rats in southern China are seemingly infected with rare IIo and IIp subtype families of C. parvum [25,27]. Most of data on these two C. parvum subtype families in bamboo rats, however, were from a study of animals in Jiangxi, Guangxi, and Hainan [24]. ...
... are common in bamboo rats in Guangdong, China. The detection rate of Cryptosporidium spp. in present study (12.2% or 88/724) is higher than in previous study (2.2% or 1/46) in the same area [25]. It is also higher than the 3.2% detection rate in bamboo rats from a pet market [27]. ...
Bamboo rats (Rhizomys sinensis) are widely farmed in Guangdong, China, but the distribution and public health potential of Cryptosporidium spp. in them are unclear. In this study, 724 fecal specimens were collected from bamboo rats in Guangdong Province and analyzed for Cryptosporidium spp. using PCR and sequence analyses of the small subunit rRNA gene. The overall detection rate of Cryptosporidium spp. was 12.2% (88/724). By age, the detection rate in animals under 2 months (23.2% or 13/56) was significantly higher than in animals over 2 months (11.2% or 75/668; χ2 = 6.95, df = 1, p = 0.0084). By reproduction status, the detection rate of Cryptosporidium spp. in nursing animals (23.1% or 27/117) was significantly higher than in other reproduction statuses (6.8% or 4/59; χ2 = 7.18, df = 1, p = 0.0074). Five Cryptosporidium species and genotypes were detected, including Cryptosporidium bamboo rat genotype I (n = 49), C. parvum (n = 31), Cryptosporidium bamboo rat genotype III (n = 5), C. occultus (n = 2), and C. muris (n = 1). The average numbers of oocysts per gram of feces for these Cryptosporidium spp. were 14,074, 494,636, 9239, 394, and 323, respectively. The genetic uniqueness of bamboo rat genotypes I and III was confirmed by sequence analyses of the 70 kDa heat shock protein and actin genes. Subtyping C. parvum by sequence analysis of the 60 kDa glycoprotein gene identified the presence of IIoA15G1 (n = 20) and IIpA6 (n = 2) subtypes. The results of this study indicated that Cryptosporidium spp. are common in bamboo rats in Guangdong, and some of the Cryptosporidium spp. in these animals are known human pathogens.
