title: Immunoenzymatic analysis and genetic detection of Cryptosporidium parvum in lambs from Italy.
abstract: Cryptosporidiosis is a worldwide-diffused protozoan disease causing important economic losses to animal husbandry and livestock production. Additionally, several species/genotypes of Cryptosporidium have a relevant zoonotic potential and ruminants may be important sources of infection for human beings. Nonetheless, in Europe, little is known of the presence of Cryptosporidium in sheep nor on the species/genotypes involved. To obtain information on the occurrence of cryptosporidiosis in lambs and the potential zoonotic role of the Cryptosporidium isolates, one hundred and forty-nine faecal samples individually collected from lambs in central Italy have been examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium. All faecal specimens were processed with a commercial ELISA kit immunoassay and all ELISA-positive samples were further analyzed genetically. Twenty-six ELISA-positive samples scored positive at the PCR and the sequences obtained displayed 100% identity with the zoonotic Cryptosporidum parvum. This work suggests for the first time that lambs in Italy may shed C. parvum, thus representing a potential public health hazard.
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Paoletti
authors.forename: Annunziata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giangaspero
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iorio
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cembalo
authors.forename: Piermarino
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Milillo
authors.forename: Donato
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Traversa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005838:Genotype; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan