title: The identification of the Cryptosporidium ubiquitum in pre-weaned Ovines from Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture in China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cryptosporidium spp. are prevalent globally and sheep are an important zoonotic reservoir. Little data regarding the rates of Cryptosporidium infections in ovines in China are available. This study assessed the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in pre-weaned ovines from Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in the Sichuan province of China.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 213 fecal samples were collected from pre-weaned ovines and were examined microscopically (following modified acid fast staining). In addition, 18S rRNA genetic sequences were amplified from fecal samples by nested PCR and phylogenetically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of Cryptosporidium in the collected samples was at 14.6% (31/213) and four isolates identified by PCR belonged to the Cryptosporidium cervine genotype (Cryptosporidium ubiquitum) demonstrating that this species was the primary sheep species found in sheep in China.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study suggested that the high incidence of Cryptosporidium in sheep poses a significant public health threat and that surveillance practices must be established to prevent zoonotic disease of humans.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, MOH, China.
authors.forename: Yujuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Jianhai
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Zhongying
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Weiyuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yuxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D033661:Oocysts / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012756:Sheep; D014886:Weaning