title: Equine cryptosporidial infection associated with Cryptosporidium hedgehog genotype in Algeria.
abstract: Faecal samples from two horse farms in Algeria keeping Arabian, Thoroughbred, and Barb horses were examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium in 2010-2011. A total of 138 faecal samples (16 from a farm keeping 50 animals and 122 from a farm with 267 horses) were screened for Cryptosporidium spp. infection using molecular tools. DNA was extracted from all samples. Nested PCR was performed to amplify fragments of the SSU rDNA and gp60 genes to determine the presence of Cryptosporidium species and genotypes. Sequence analyses of SSU and gp60 genes revealed four animals positive for the presence of subtype XIIIa A22R9 of the Cryptosporidium hedgehog genotype. The infections were not associated with diarrhoea. This study reports, for the first time, the occurrence of Cryptosporidium in Algeria and the first occurrence of the hedgehog genotype in horses. These findings support the potential role of infected horses in sylvatic-domestic transmission of Cryptosporidium.
authors.affiliation: Higher National School of Veterinary, BP 161 Hacène Badi, EL Harrach, Algiers, Algeria.
authors.forename: Abd Elkarim
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Laatamna
authors.forename: Pavla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wagnerová
authors.forename: Bohumil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sak
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Květoňová
authors.forename: Miriem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aissi
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rost
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kváč
mesh_terms: D000462:Algeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000235:genetics*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006364:Hedgehogs / Q000469:parasitology*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006736:Horses; D064747:Lansoprazole; D033661:Oocysts; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D064747:Lansoprazole
keywords: Cryptosporidium hedgehog genotype; GP60; Horses; PCR; SSU