Epidemiological and Molecular Study of Cryptosporidium in Preweaned Calves in Kuwait

Abstract

Cryptosporidium is a worldwide enteric protozoan parasite that causes gastrointestinal infection in animals, including humans. The most notable species is Cryptosporidium parvum because of its zoonotic importance; it is also the leading cause of cryptosporidiosis in preweaned calves. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection, investigate the potential risk factors, and use molecular diagnosis to identify the predominant Cryptosporidium spp. in preweaned calves in Kuwait. Of 175 preweaned calves, Cryptosporidium antigens were detected in 58 (33.1%) using rapid lateral immunochromatography assay (IC). Calves less than one month of age (OR = 4.32, p = 0.0001) and poor hygiene (OR = 2.85, p = 0.0075) were identified as significant risk factors associated with Cryptosporidium infection. Molecular identification revealed that C. parvum (62.8%) was the dominant species infecting preweaned calves in Kuwait. In contrast, C. bovis and C. andersoni were recorded at 5.7% and 2.9%, respectively. All C. parvum gp60 nucleotide sequences were subtype IIaA15G2R1. Calves could be a source of C. parvum infection due to the similarity of the subtypes recorded previously in Kuwaiti children and preweaned calves in this study. Therefore, more research is needed to understand the Cryptosporidium transmission cycle in Kuwait.

Keywords: C. parvum IIaA15G2R1; Cryptosporidium spp.; Kuwait; preweaned calves; risk factors.

Figure 1

Results of rapid IC assay: (A) Prevalence of the four pathogens (Cryptosporidium, rotavirus-A, coronavirus, and E. coli) detected in 175 preweaned calves. (B) Prevalence of Cryptosporidium mono-infection and co-infections with other pathogens detected by IC.

Figure 2

Cryptosporidium spp. identified by RFLP analysis in positive IC samples (No. 35) and subtyping of C. parvum at gp60 locus.