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. 2024 Mar 25;17(1):155.
doi: 10.1186/s13071-024-06219-3.

Molecular characterization and zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in humans and domestic animals in Heilongjiang Province, China

Yaru Hao #  1 , Aiqin Liu #  1 , He Li  1 , Yiyang Zhao  1 , Lan Yao  1 , Bo Yang  1 , Weizhe Zhang  2 , Fengkun Yang  3
Affiliations

Molecular characterization and zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in humans and domestic animals in Heilongjiang Province, China

Yaru Hao et al. Parasit Vectors. .

Abstract

Background: Cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis are significant parasitic diseases shared between humans and domestic animals. Due to the close contact between humans and domestic animals in rural areas, it is important to consider the potential transmission of zoonotic parasites from infected domestic animals to humans. This investigation aimed to determine the prevalence and molecular characteristics of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in domestic animals and villagers.

Methods: A total of 116 fecal samples from villagers and 686 fecal samples from domestic animals in Heilongjiang Province, China, were analyzed for two parasites using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting various genetic loci and DNA sequence analysis of the PCR products.

Results: By sequence analysis of the SSU rRNA gene, the prevalence of Cryptosporidium in humans was 0.9% (1/116), with one species of C. parvum (n = 1) detected; among domestic animals, the prevalence was 2.6% (18/686), with five species identified: C. suis (n = 7) and C. scrofarum (n = 7) in pigs, C. meleagridis (n = 1) in chickens, C. andersoni (n = 1) in cattle, and C. canis (n = 2) in foxes. C. parvum and C. canis were further subtyped as IIdA19G1 and XXa4 on the basis of gp60 gene. Regarding G. duodenalis, based on the SSU rRNA, bg, gdh, and tpi genes, the prevalence in domestic animals was 5.1% (31/608), with three assemblages identified: A (n = 1) in pigs, D (n = 1) in foxes, and E (n = 27) in geese, cattle, pigs, ducks, and sheep, along with mixed infection of A + E (n = 1) in one pig and B + E (n = 1) in one sheep. No G. duodenalis was detected in humans (0/116).

Conclusions: The present results show that no overlap of subtypes between animals and villagers was found in Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis, indicating a minor role of domestic animals in infecting humans in this population. However, the presence of zoonotic protozoa in domestic animals highlights the need for special attention to high-risk individuals during close contact with domestic animals.

Keywords: Cryptosporidium spp.; Giardia duodenalis; Domestic animals; Epidemiology; Humans.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Sampling sites for enteric protist samples from villagers and domestic animals in Heilongjiang Province, China
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The phylogram of Cryptosporidium spp. was inferred on the basis of the SSU rRNA gene nucleotide sequences. The evolutionary relationship of Cryptosporidium spp. was constructed by the NJ method and Kimura 2-parameter model. The numbers on the branches are percent bootstrapping values from 1000 replicates. Each reference sequence is identified by its accession number, host, and country. The triangles filled in black represent the representative sequence obtained in this study. Evolutionary analyses were conducted in MEGA 5
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The phylogram of Cryptosporidium spp. was inferred on the basis of the nucleotide sequences of the gp60 gene. The evolutionary relationship of Cryptosporidium spp. was constructed by the NJ method and Kimura 2-parameter model. The numbers on the branches are percent bootstrapping values from 1000 replicates. Each reference sequence is identified by its accession number, host, and country. The circle filled in black represents the representative sequence obtained in this study. Evolutionary analyses were conducted in MEGA 5
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