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Meta-Analysis
. 2019 Sep 14;12(1):453.
doi: 10.1186/s13071-019-3704-4.

Cryptosporidium infections in terrestrial ungulates with focus on livestock: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Kareem Hatam-Nahavandi  1 , Ehsan Ahmadpour  2 , David Carmena  3 , Adel Spotin  4   5 , Berit Bangoura  6 , Lihua Xiao  7
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Cryptosporidium infections in terrestrial ungulates with focus on livestock: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Kareem Hatam-Nahavandi et al. Parasit Vectors. .

Abstract

Background: Cryptosporidium spp. are causative agents of gastrointestinal diseases in a wide variety of vertebrate hosts. Mortality resulting from the disease is low in livestock, although severe cryptosporidiosis has been associated with fatality in young animals.

Methods: The goal of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to review the prevalence and molecular data on Cryptosporidium infections in selected terrestrial domestic and wild ungulates of the families Bovidae (bison, buffalo, cattle, goat, impala, mouflon sheep, sheep, yak), Cervidae (red deer, roe deer, white-tailed deer), Camelidae (alpaca, camel), Suidae (boar, pig), Giraffidae (giraffes) and Equidae (horses). Data collection was carried out using PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct and Cochran databases, with 429 papers being included in this systematic analysis.

Results: The results show that overall 18.9% of ungulates from the investigated species were infected with Cryptosporidium spp. Considering livestock species (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses and buffaloes), analysis revealed higher Cryptosporidium infection prevalence in ungulates of the Cetartiodactyla than in those of the Perissodactyla, with cattle (29%) being the most commonly infected farm animal.

Conclusions: Overall, the investigated domestic ungulates are considered potential sources of Cryptosporidium contamination in the environment. Control measures should be developed to reduce the occurrence of Cryptosporidium infection in these animals. Furthermore, literature on wild populations of the named ungulate species revealed a widespread presence and potential reservoir function of wildlife.

Keywords: Cattle; Cryptosporidiosis; Goat; Horse; Livestock; Pig; Sheep; Wildlife.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram describing the paper selection process according to PRISMA guidelines
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Forest plot of prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. infection in cattle using molecular methods (first author, year and country)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Forest plot of prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. infection in goats using molecular methods (first author, year and country)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Forest plot of prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. infection in sheep using molecular methods (first author, year and country)
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Forest plot of prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. infection in pigs using molecular methods (first author, year and country)
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Forest plot of prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. infection in horses using molecular methods (first author, year and country)
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Forest plot of prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. infection in buffaloes using molecular methods (first author, year and country)
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium in different geographical regions in the world. The prevalence in each country was determined from conventional microscopy data in farmed animals (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses and buffaloes)
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
The phylogeny of Cryptosporidium spp
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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