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. 2023 Jul 22:22:1-5.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.07.005. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Molecular detection and characterization of Giardia spp., Cryptosporidium spp., and Blastocystis in captive wild animals rescued from central Colombia

Lissa Cruz-Saavedra  1 , Vivian Alejandra Arévalo  1 , Diego Garcia-Corredor  1   2 , Paula Andrea Jiménez  1 , Laura Vega  1 , Martín Pulido-Medellín  2 , Melissa Ortiz-Pineda  2 , Juan David Ramírez  1
Affiliations

Molecular detection and characterization of Giardia spp., Cryptosporidium spp., and Blastocystis in captive wild animals rescued from central Colombia

Lissa Cruz-Saavedra et al. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl. .

Abstract

Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Blastocystis are significant causes of diarrhea worldwide. However, studies on their prevalence in wild animals are limited, compared to humans and domestic animals. In this study, we collected 23 stool samples from captive wild rescued animals in Boyacá, Colombia. Using conventional PCR, we detected Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp., and Blastocystis in over half of the samples (69.6%). Cryptosporidium spp. (43.5%) were the most commonly found, followed by Giardia spp. (39.1%) and Blastocystis (13.0%). Co-infections involving these parasites were also observed. Subsequent genotyping revealed Cryptosporidium canis and Cryptosporidium ryanae as the predominant species. These findings contribute valuable information about the ecoepidemiology of intestinal parasites in Colombian wild animals.

Keywords: Detection; Genotyping; Intestinal protozoan; Rescued animals; Wild animals.

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Conflict of interest statement

•All authors have participated in (a) conception and design, or analysis and interpretation of the data; (b) drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; and (c) approval of the final version.•This manuscript has not been submitted to, nor is under review at, another journal or other publishing venue.•The authors have no affiliation with any organization with a direct or indirect financial interest in the subject matter discussed in the manuscript.•The following authors have affiliations with organizations with direct or indirect financial interest in the subject matter discussed in the manuscript:

Figures

Image 1
Graphical abstract
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Cryptosporidium species in wild animals kept in captivity. The chord diagram shows the relation between Cryptosporidium species and the order and species of infected animals.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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