The Age-Related Cryptosporidium Species Distribution in Asymptomatic Cattle from North-Western Spain

Díaz, Pablo; Navarro, Esther; Remesar, Susana; García-Dios, David; Martínez-Calabuig, Néstor; Prieto, Alberto; López-Lorenzo, Gonzalo; López, Ceferino Manuel; Panadero, Rosario; Fernández, Gonzalo; Díez-Baños, Pablo; Morrondo, Patrocinio

doi:10.3390/ani11020256

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The Age-Related Cryptosporidium Species Distribution in Asymptomatic Cattle from North-Western Spain

Department of Animal Pathology (INVESAGA Group), Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain

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Academic Editors: Maria Teresa Manfredi, Alessia L. Gazzonis, Michele Mortarino, Luca Villa and Sergio Zanzani

Animals 2021, 11(2), 256; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020256

Received: 28 December 2020 / Revised: 15 January 2021 / Accepted: 18 January 2021 / Published: 20 January 2021

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Diseases of Cattle)

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An age-related distribution of Cryptosporidium species has been reported in cattle, with the pathogenic and zoonotic C. parvum being predominant in suckling calves, C. bovis and C. ryanae being predominant in post-weaned calves and C. andersoni being predominant in adults. However, variants to this pattern have recently been reported. Unravelling the age-related species distribution pattern in cattle from a particular region will allow determining those age classes posing a higher risk to public and animal health. Thus, fecal samples from asymptomatic cattle were collected in north-western Spain. Cryptosporidium detection and species identification was performed by molecular methods. Cryptosporidium prevalence was 16.7%; it significantly decreased with age. Cryptosporidium andersoni, C. bovis, C. occultus, C. parvum, C. ryanae and C. xiaoi were identified. Cryptosporidium parvum was predominant in calves younger than 1 month and C. bovis was predominant in the rest of the age groups. The presence of C. parvum in all age groups implies animal and public health concerns. The predominance of C. bovis in cattle older than 1 month supports the idea that the age-related pattern of Cryptosporidium species described in cattle is not fully consistent, and thus further studies are needed to identify those factors determining the species distribution.

Abstract

An age-related distribution of Cryptosporidium species has been reported in cattle, with C. parvum being predominant in suckling calves, C. bovis and C. ryanae being predominant in post-weaned calves and C. andersoni being predominant in adults. However, variants to this pattern have recently been reported. Thus, fecal samples (n = 594) from asymptomatic cattle were collected in north-western Spain. Animals were classified as <1 month (G1), 1–2 months (G2), 2–12 months (G3), 12–24 months (G4) and >2 years (G5). Cryptosporidium detection and species identification were performed by SSU rRNA PCR. Individual Cryptosporidium prevalence was 16.7%; it significantly decreased with age. Cryptosporidium parvum was predominant in G1 and C. bovis was predominant in the rest of the age classes; C. bovis and C. ryanae were especially prevalent in G2 and G3. Cryptosporidium occultus was not found in suckling calves. Finally, C. andersoni and C. xiaoi were occasionally detected in G5. The presence of C. parvum in all age classes implies significant animal and public health concerns. The predominance of C. bovis in cattle older than 1 month supports the idea that the age-related pattern of Cryptosporidium species described in cattle is not fully consistent, and thus further studies are still needed to identify those factors determining the species distribution. View Full-Text

Keywords: Cryptosporidium; pre-weaned calves; post-weaned calves; adult cattle; asymptomatic; north-western Spain

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MDPI and ACS Style

Díaz, P.; Navarro, E.; Remesar, S.; García-Dios, D.; Martínez-Calabuig, N.; Prieto, A.; López-Lorenzo, G.; López, C.M.; Panadero, R.; Fernández, G.; Díez-Baños, P.; Morrondo, P. The Age-Related Cryptosporidium Species Distribution in Asymptomatic Cattle from North-Western Spain. Animals 2021, 11, 256. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020256

AMA Style

Díaz P, Navarro E, Remesar S, García-Dios D, Martínez-Calabuig N, Prieto A, López-Lorenzo G, López CM, Panadero R, Fernández G, Díez-Baños P, Morrondo P. The Age-Related Cryptosporidium Species Distribution in Asymptomatic Cattle from North-Western Spain. Animals. 2021; 11(2):256. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020256

Chicago/Turabian Style

Díaz, Pablo, Esther Navarro, Susana Remesar, David García-Dios, Néstor Martínez-Calabuig, Alberto Prieto, Gonzalo López-Lorenzo, Ceferino M. López, Rosario Panadero, Gonzalo Fernández, Pablo Díez-Baños, and Patrocinio Morrondo. 2021. "The Age-Related Cryptosporidium Species Distribution in Asymptomatic Cattle from North-Western Spain" Animals 11, no. 2: 256. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020256

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The Age-Related Cryptosporidium Species Distribution in Asymptomatic Cattle from North-Western Spain

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