title: Giardia and Cryptosporidium in cetaceans on the European Atlantic coast.
abstract: The occurrence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium was investigated in cetacean specimens stranded on the northwestern coast of Spain (European Atlantic coast) by analysis of 65 samples of large intestine from eight species. The parasites were identified by direct immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and by PCR amplification of the β-giardin gene, the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region and the SSU-rDNA gene of Giardia and the SSU-rDNA gene of Cryptosporidium. Giardia and Cryptosporidium were detected in 7 (10.8 %) and 9 samples (13.8 %), respectively. In two samples, co-infection with both parasites was observed. Giardia duodenalis assemblages A, C, D and F, and Cryptosporidium parvum were identified. This is the first report of G. duodenalis in Balaenoptera acutorostrata, Kogia breviceps and Stenella coeruleoalba and also the first report of Cryptosporidium sp. in B. acutorostrata and of C. parvum in S. coeruleoalba and Tursiops truncatus. These results extend the known host range of these waterborne enteroparasites.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reboredo-Fernández
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ares-Mazás
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Martínez-Cedeira
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Romero-Suances
authors.forename: Simone M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cacciò
authors.forename: Hipólito
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gómez-Couso
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean / Q000453:epidemiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D002591:Cetacea; D060085:Coinfection / Q000662:veterinary; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000235:genetics; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D005872:Giardia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000235:genetics; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal