title: Molecular characterisation of Cryptosporidium isolates from pre-weaned calves in Romania: is there an actual risk of zoonotic infections?
abstract: Diarrheic fecal samples from 258 pre-weaned calves (1-30 day-old) from 9 dairy farms located in Banat region, Romania, were microscopically examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts. Overall, 65 (25%) samples were found positive. A higher percent of infection was recorded in calves aged between 8 and 14 days compared with other age categories (1-7, 8-14, 15-21 and 22-30 days; p<0.05). Genetic characterization was carried out on all Cryptosporidium-positive samples. After DNA extraction, Cryptosporidium species were determined by a nested PCR of the small subunit rRNA gene (18S) followed by RFLP analysis with SspI, VspI and MboII restriction enzymes. The restriction patterns showed that animals were infected with Cryptosporidium parvum. Subsequently, subtyping of 13 C. parvum isolates, based on sequence analysis of the 60 kDa glycoprotein (GP60) gene, showed 2 subtypes (IIaA15G2R1 and IIaA16G1R1) belonging to the subtype family IIa. This is the first molecular study of bovine Cryptosporidium infection in Romania.
authors: Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Banat University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Timişoara, Calea Aradului nr. 119, 300645 Timişoara, Romania. kalman imre27@yahoo.com
authors: Kálmán
authors: K
authors: Imre
authors: Luisa M
authors: LM
authors: Lobo
authors: Olga
authors: O
authors: Matos
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Popescu
authors: Claudio
authors: C
authors: Genchi
authors: Gheorghe
authors: G
authors: Dărăbuş