Prevalence and Genotyping of Cryptosporidium Infection in Pet Parrots in North China.
Cryptosporidiosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by Cryptosporidium spp., sometimes leading to severe diarrhea in humans and animals. In the present study, 311 parrots, belonging to four species, namely, Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus), Lovebirds (Agapornis sp.), Alexandrine parakeets (Psittacula eupatria), and Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus), from Beijing and Weifang cities, were examined for Cryptosporidium spp. infection. Blood samples of each bird were examined using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and fecal samples were examined by Sheather's sugar flotation technique. Prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection were 3.22% (10/311) and 0.64% (2/311) by ELISA and Sheather's sugar flotation technique, respectively. Seroprevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in different breeds varied from 0 to 15.39%. Sequencing analysis showed that both positive samples from fecal samples belonged to Cryptosporidium avian genotype V. This is the first report of Cryptosporidium avian genotype V in Budgerigars. The results of the present study provided foundation-data for prevention and control of cryptosporidiosis in pet birds in China.
State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, China ; College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin 130118, China.
Xiao-Xuan
XX
Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, China.
Nian-Zhang
NZ
Zhang
College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
Guang-Hui
GH
Zhao
College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin 130118, China.
Quan
Q
Zhao
State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, China ; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China.
Xing-Quan
XQ
Zhu
D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D010311:Parrots; D057805:Pets / Q000469:parasitology*; D015995:Prevalence