Genotypes and subtypes of Cryptosporidium spp. in neonatal calves in Northern Ireland - PubMed (original) (raw)

Genotypes and subtypes of Cryptosporidium spp. in neonatal calves in Northern Ireland

Heather P Thompson et al. Parasitol Res. 2007 Feb.

Abstract

Cryptosporidium spp. in diarrheic calves less than 30 days old from farms across Northern Ireland were examined over a year period by microscopic, genotyping, and subtyping techniques to characterize the transmission dynamics. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 291 of 779 (37.4%) animals. The prevalence rates of rotavirus, coronavirus, and Escherichia coli K99+ were lower as seen in 242 of 806 (30.0%), 46/806 (5.7%), and 16/421 (3.8%) of animals, respectively. Of the 224 Cryptosporidium-positive specimens available for molecular analysis, Cryptosporidium parvum was identified in 213 (95.1%) specimens, Cryptosporidium bovis in eight (3.6%), and Cryptosporidium deer-like genotype in three (1.3%). Sequence analysis of the 60-kDa glycoprotein gene identified 16 IIa subtypes and a new subtype family, with 120 of the 216 (55.6%) positive specimens having the subtype IIaA18G3R1. Eight of the IIa subtypes were previously seen in humans in Northern Ireland. Several subtypes were temporally or geographically unique. The genetic diversity in calves in Northern Ireland was much greater than that reported from other areas. This work demonstrates the utility of genotyping and subtyping tools in characterizing the transmission of Cryptosporidium spp. in calves and humans.

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Figures

Fig. 1

Fig. 1

Monthly prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in calves less than 30 days old in Northern Ireland March 2002 to February 2003

Fig. 2

Fig. 2

_Ssp_I RFLP patterns of three Cryptosporidium species in neonatal calves. Lane 1 100-bp molecular markers; lanes 2, 3, 5_–_9: C. bovis; lane 4: C. parvum; lanes 10_–_12: Cryptosporidium deer-like genotype. Note the upper and lower bands of C. parvum (lane 4) are slightly larger than those of the deer-like genotype (lanes 10_–_12) and some C. bovis (lanes 5_–_7), and some C. bovis (lanes 2, 3, 8, and 9) have a mixture of the larger and smaller upper bands

Fig. 3

Fig. 3

Distribution of Cryptosporidium parvum subtypes in neonatal calves in Northern Ireland

Fig. 4

Fig. 4

Monthly distribution of four common Cryptosporidium parvum subtypes in neonatal calves in Northern Ireland

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