title: Prevalence of Cryptosporidium genotypes in pre and post-weaned pigs in Australia.
abstract: A total of 289 pig faecal samples were collected from pre-weaned and post-weaned piglets and sows from 1 indoor and 3 outdoor piggeries located in the south-west region of Western Australia and screened at the 18S rRNA locus for the presence of Cryptosporidium. An overall prevalence of 22.1% (64/289) was identified. Cryptosporidium was more prevalent in post-weaned animals (p<0.05); 32.7% (51/156) versus 10.6% (13/123) for pre-weaned animals. Sequence analysis identified Cryptosporidium suis in all pre-weaned isolates genotyped (7/13). In post-weaned pigs that were genotyped (n=38), the non-zoonotic Cryptosporidium species, pig genotype II was identified in 32 samples and C. suis in 6 samples. The zoonotic species Cryptosporidium parvum was not detected, suggesting that domestic pigs do not pose a significant public health risk. Pig genotype II was significantly (p<0.05) associated with 'normal' stools, indicating an asymptomatic nature in the porcine host.
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Sciences, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buddle
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Armson
authors.forename: Una M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006799:Housing, Animal; D015995:Prevalence; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D014886:Weaning; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D016053:RNA, Protozoan; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S