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. 2025:32:4.
doi: 10.1051/parasite/2024079. Epub 2025 Jan 23.

Expansion of the known host range of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in captive wildlife at Beijing Zoo

Qianming Zhao  1 , Zhiyang Pei  1 , Yongqiang He  1 , Ting Jia  2 , Yanzhen Zhang  2 , Mengjun Zheng  2 , Zhenjie Zhang  1 , Meng Qi  1
Affiliations

Expansion of the known host range of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in captive wildlife at Beijing Zoo

Qianming Zhao et al. Parasite. 2025.

Abstract
in English, French

Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. are significant zoonotic parasites that cause diarrhea and affect a diverse range of hosts. This study aimed to investigate the infection rates of these parasites in captive wildlife at Beijing Zoo. A total of 445 fecal samples were collected and analyzed using PCR. The infection rate of G. duodenalis was 3.82% (17/445), with assemblage A (n = 1), assemblage B (n = 13), and assemblage E (n = 3) identified. The infection rate of Cryptosporidium spp. was 0.22% (1/445), with only one instance of C. ryanae identified from cattle (Bos taurus). To the best of our knowledge, this study enhances the understanding of the host range of G. duodenalis in captive wildlife within China, highlighting infections in Corsac Fox (Vulpes corsac), Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), and Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis). These findings indicate that the infection rates of G. duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in captive wildlife at Beijing Zoo are low, while showing that the known host range of G. duodenalis is expanding.

Title: Élargissement de la gamme d’hôtes connus de Giardia duodenalis et Cryptosporidium spp. chez la faune captive du zoo de Pékin.

Abstract: Giardia duodenalis et Cryptosporidium spp. sont des parasites zoonotiques importants qui provoquent des diarrhées et affectent une gamme diversifiée d’hôtes. Cette étude visait à examiner les taux d’infection de ces parasites chez la faune captive au zoo de Pékin. Au total, 445 échantillons fécaux ont été collectés et analysés par PCR. Le taux d’infection de G. duodenalis était de 3,82 % (17/445), avec l’assemblage A (n = 1), l’assemblage B (n = 13) et l’assemblage E (n = 3) identifiés. Le taux d’infection de Cryptosporidium spp. était de 0,22 % (1/445), avec un seul cas de C. ryanae identifié chez des bovins (Bos taurus). À notre connaissance, cette étude améliore la compréhension de la gamme d’hôtes de G. duodenalis chez la faune captive en Chine, mettant en évidence des infections chez le renard corsac (Vulpes corsac), le rhinocéros indien (Rhinoceros unicornis) et la girafe (Giraffa camelopardalis). Ces résultats indiquent que les taux d’infection de G. duodenalis et de Cryptosporidium spp. dans la faune captive du zoo de Pékin sont faibles, tout en montrant que la gamme d’hôtes connue de G. duodenalis est en expansion.

Keywords: Cryptosporidium spp.; Giardia duodenalis; Host; Wild animals; Zoonotic.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Phylogenetic analysis of Giardia duodenalis conducted based on small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene sequences. The evolutionary history was inferred using the neighbor-joining method, with analyses performed in MEGA 7.0. Bootstrap values greater than 50% from 1,000 replicates are indicated on the nodes. The sequences identified in this study are represented by triangles; known sequences are marked with open triangles, while new sequences are indicated by filled triangles.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Phylogenetic analysis of Giardia duodenalis conducted based on beta-giardin (bg) gene sequences. The evolutionary history was inferred using the neighbor-joining method, with analyses performed in MEGA 7.0. Bootstrap values greater than 50% from 1,000 replicates are indicated on the nodes. The sequences identified in this study are represented by triangles; known sequences are marked with open triangles, while new sequences are indicated by filled triangles.
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