Multilocus typing of Cryptosporidium spp. in young calves with diarrhea in Korea.
We assessed the prevalence and performed molecular analysis of Cryptosporidium spp. in diarrheal feces of calves in Korea. Diarrheal fecal samples were collected from 951 young calves (<3months) on 425 farms. Cryptosporidium prevalence was assessed by PCR and ELISA, and molecular characterization was performed by targeting the 18S rRNA, heat-shock protein 70 (hsp70), and glycoprotein 60 (gp60) genes. Data were analyzed according to the sex, type of cattle, region, season, and type of diarrhea. PCR analysis revealed Cryptosporidium spp. in 9.9% (94/951) of diarrheal fecal samples. C. parvum and C. bovis/ryanae were present in 6.1% (58/951) and 4.1% (39/951) of diarrheal fecal samples, respectively. In addition, ELISA showed positive results for C. parvum in 9.7% (92/951) samples. Statistical analysis of the PCR and ELISA results revealed a lower prevalence of C. parvum in the hemorrhagic diarrheal samples (P<0.05). For C. bovis/ryanae, seasonality and high prevalence in hemorrhagic diarrhea were observed (P<0.05). Of the 951 samples tested for C. parvum, 903 samples showed agreement with a κ value of 0.65, indicating good agreement between the two tests. Although C. bovis and C. ryanae share highly similar 18S rRNA sequences, PCR based on hsp70 successfully distinguished C. bovis from C. ryanae. Sequence analysis of gp60 revealed that C. parvum belonged to the IIa families and was further subtyped as IIaA18G3R1 and IIaA16G3R1, which have not been previously reported in Asia. These findings indicate that Cryptosporidium spp. play an important role in diarrhea in young calves in Korea. Considering the zoonotic significance of C. parvum IIa subtype and dense rearing system of cattle in Korea, prevention and continuous monitoring of Cryptosporidium are required.
College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Seung-Hun
SH
Lee
College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Dorene
D
VanBik
Animal Disease Diagnostic Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, Republic of Korea.
Ha-Young
HY
Kim
Animal Disease Diagnostic Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, Republic of Korea.
Yu-Ran
YR
Lee
Animal Disease Diagnostic Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, Republic of Korea.
Jong Wan
JW
Kim
Animal Disease Diagnostic Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, Republic of Korea.
Myeongju
M
Chae
Animal Disease Diagnostic Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, Republic of Korea.
Sang-Ik
SI
Oh
Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Youn-Kyoung
YK
Goo
College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Oh-Deog
OD
Kwon
College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: dmkwak@knu.ac.kr.
Dongmi
D
Kwak
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000145:classification*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D058885:Multilocus Sequence Typing / Q000662:veterinary*; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology
Calves; Cryptosporidium spp.; Diarrhea; Genotyping; Multilocus typing