title: Subtyping of Cryptosporidium cuniculus and genotyping of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in rabbits in two farms in Heilongjiang Province, China.
abstract: Cryptosporidium spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi are two prevalent opportunistic pathogens in humans and animals. Currently, few data are available on genetic characterization of both pathogens in rabbits in China. The aim of the present study was to understand prevalence and genetic characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. and E. bieneusi in rabbits. We collected 215 fecal samples from 150 Rex rabbits and 65 New Zealand White rabbits on two different farms in Heilongjiang Province, China. Cryptosporidium spp. and E. bieneusi were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing the partial small subunit of ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA, respectively. Cryptosporidium was detected in 3.3% (5/150) of Rex rabbits and 29.2% (19/65) of New Zealand White rabbits. All the 24 Cryptosporidium isolates were identified as C. cuniculus. Enterocytozoon bieneusi was only found in 14.7% (22/150) of Rex rabbits. Five known genotypes: CHN-RD1 (n = 12), D (n = 3), Type IV (n = 2), Peru6 (n = 1), and I (n = 1), and three novel ones CHN-RR1 to CHN-RR3 (one each) were detected. By analyzing the 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene sequences of C. cuniculus isolates, three subtypes were obtained: VbA28 (n = 2), VbA29 (n = 16), and VbA32 (n = 3). All these three C. cuniculus subtypes were reported previously in humans. Four known E. bieneusi genotypes have been found to be present in humans. The three novel ones fell into zoonotic group 1. The results suggest zoonotic potential of C. cuniculus and E. bieneusi isolates in rabbits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China.
authors.forename: Ziyin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, WHO Collaborating Centre for Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Filariasis, Shanghai 200025, China.
authors.forename: Yujuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China.
authors.forename: Weizhe
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China.
authors.forename: Guangxu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China.
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China.
authors.forename: Fengkun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China.
authors.forename: Aiqin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, WHO Collaborating Centre for Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Filariasis, Shanghai 200025, China.
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry; D021862:Enterocytozoon / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D000072480:Farms; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D060005:Genotyping Techniques / Q000662:veterinary*; D006801:Humans; D016881:Microsporidiosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011817:Rabbits / Q000469:parasitology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal