Cryptosporidium in commercially produced turkeys on-farm and postslaughter.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the presence of Cryptosporidium species in commercially produced turkey flocks on farm and postslaughter.


RESULTS
Three separate turkey flocks were sampled at a single farm and again postslaughter at a commercial processing facility. DNA was extracted and purified from faecal (farm) or caecal (postslaughter) samples and a fragment of 18S rDNA was amplified using a nested PCR approach. Amplified fragments were sequenced, aligned and a neighbour joining tree was constructed. Cryptosporidium meleagridis was not identified in any of the flocks tested. However, all flocks tested positive for Cryptosporidium parvum species. One of the flocks tested positive at the farm and postslaughter.


CONCLUSIONS
While C. parvum was present in birds at the farm and postslaughter, turkeys at this facility are not likely to be a significant reservoir for this species.


CONCLUSIONS
Cryptosporidium meleagridis infects avian and human hosts and is increasingly being recognized as a significant human pathogen. However, this study found no evidence of C. meleagridis in commercially produced turkeys at a single location.
McEvoy
J M
JM
Department of Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA. john.mcevoy@ndsu.edu
Giddings
C W
CW
D000003:Abattoirs; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D002432:Cecum / Q000469:parasitology; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D014422:Turkeys / Q000469:parasitology*
D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S