Infections with multiple Cryptosporidium species and new genetic variants in young dairy calves on a farm located within a drinking water catchment area in New Zealand.
Several Cryptosporidium species are known to infect cattle. However, the occurrence of mixed infections with more than one species and the impact of this phenomenon on animal and human health are poorly understood. Therefore, to detect the presence of mixed Cryptosporidium infections, 15 immunofluorescence-positive specimens obtained from 6-week-old calves' faeces (n=60) on one dairy farm were subjected to PCR-sequencing at multiple loci. DNA sequences of three Cryptosporidium species: C. parvum (15/15), C. bovis (3/15) and C. andersoni (1/15), and two new genetic variants were identified. There was evidence of mixed infections in five specimens. C. parvum, C. bovis and C. andersoni sequences were detected together in one specimen, C. parvum and C. bovis in two specimens, and C. parvum and C. parvum-like variants in the remaining two specimens. Sequencing of gp60 amplicons identified the IIaA19G4R1 (8/15) and IIaA18G3R1 (4/15) C. parvum subgenotypes. This study provides evidence of endemic mixed infections with the three main Cryptosporidium species of cattle and new genetic variants, in calves at the transition age of six weeks. The results add to the body of evidence describing Cryptosporidium isolates as genetically heterogeneous populations, and highlight the need for iterative genotyping to explore their genetic makeup.
Molecular Epidemiology and Veterinary Public Health Laboratory ((m)EpiLab) and Infectious Disease Research Centre (IDReC), Hopkirk Research Institute, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand; Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences (IVABS), Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand. Electronic address: r.d.shrestha@massey.ac.nz.
Rima D
RD
Shrestha
Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences (IVABS), Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Alex
A
Grinberg
Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences (IVABS), Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Venkata S R
VS
Dukkipati
Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences (IVABS), Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Eve J
EJ
Pleydell
Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences (IVABS), Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Deborah J
DJ
Prattley
Molecular Epidemiology and Veterinary Public Health Laboratory ((m)EpiLab) and Infectious Disease Research Centre (IDReC), Hopkirk Research Institute, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand; Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences (IVABS), Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Nigel P
NP
French
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D060085:Coinfection; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D003612:Dairying; D060766:Drinking Water; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D017125:Genes, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009520:New Zealand; D016415:Sequence Alignment
D060766:Drinking Water
Calves; Cryptosporidium; Mixed infection; PCR-sequencing; Zoonotic