title: Molecular identification of Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia duodenalis in the Italian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).
abstract: Livestock are commonly infected with protozoan parasites of the genera Cryptosporidium and Giardia, and some of the species and genotypes found in these animals have zoonotic significance. We characterized isolates of both parasites recovered from the Italian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), an economically important species whose milk is used for the production of "buffalo mozzarella" fresh cheese. Molecular analysis of the Cryptosporidium small subunit ribosomal DNA gene and of the Giardia beta-giardin gene shows the presence of both zoonotic parasites (Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia duodenalis assemblage A) and host-specific parasites (G. duodenalis assemblage E), suggesting that water buffaloes can contribute to environmental contamination with oocysts and cysts potentially infectious to humans if their faeces are improperly disposed of. On the other hand, mozzarella cheese is probably a safe product, given that its production involves the treatment of cheese curd at 85-95 degrees C, which is likely to kill or inactivate the parasites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Simone M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cacciò
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cringoli
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Condoleo
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pozio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000469:parasitology*; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005872:Giardia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007558:Italy
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan