Simple Summary
Cryptosporidiosis is a major cause of gastrointestinal illness and severe diarrhea in immunocompromised hosts, and Cryptosporidium has also been widely reported in reptiles, where it can cause wasting syndrome and death. This study investigated whether Cryptosporidium infection contributes to the development of wasting syndrome in captive leopard geckos from a commercial breeding facility in Chiang Mai, Thailand. We monitored 35 captive leopard geckos across 23 enclosures over several weeks for four months. Each month, we collected fecal samples from their enclosures and examined them using microscopy and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to detect Cryptosporidium. Body weight, tail diameter, and body condition score were recorded to evaluate wasting syndrome. Slightly more than half of the geckos and their enclosures were infected with Cryptosporidium, while one in five individuals presented with wasting syndrome. Cryptosporidium varanii was identified by nested PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and sequencing, which showed 100% similarity to reference C. varanii sequences in GenBank. Cryptosporidium infection was significantly associated with wasting syndrome, and persistent oocyst shedding was observed. This study provides the first evidence of C. varanii infection in leopard geckos in Thailand and underscores the need for greater awareness and expanded surveillance in Thailand and across the Asia-Pacific region.
Abstract
Cryptosporidiosis is a globally important protozoan disease that causes severe gastrointestinal illness in immunocompromised humans and animals and has been associated with chronic wasting and death in reptiles. This study investigated the role of Cryptosporidium infection in wasting syndrome among captive leopard geckos from a commercial breeding facility in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Thirty-five geckos housed in twenty-three enclosures were observed for four months, with fecal samples collected over three consecutive days every two weeks and pooled for molecular analysis. Clinical evaluations included body weight (BW), tail diameter, and body condition score (BCS) to assess wasting. Nested PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene and subsequent sequencing were performed. Cryptosporidium was detected in 51.43% of geckos and 52.17% of enclosures, while 20% exhibited wasting syndrome. BLAST (v. 2.17.0) and phylogenetic analyses identified C. varanii, which showed 100% identity with isolates from leopard geckos in Spain and from snakes in Thailand and China. Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated a significant association between Cryptosporidium infection and wasting syndrome (OR = 11.15, 95% CI: 1.78–69.98, p = 0.027), with persistent oocyst shedding observed. This study provides new insights into C. varanii infection among leopard gecko breeders in Thailand and highlights the potential for infected breeding stock to disseminate Cryptosporidium, underscoring the need for enhanced awareness, surveillance, and biosecurity measures across Thailand and the Asia-Pacific region.