TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence, transmission, and host specificity of Cryptosporidium spp. in various animal groups from two French zoos
AU - Osman, Marwan
AU - El Safadi, Dima
AU - Benamrouz-Vanneste, Sadia
AU - Cian, Amandine
AU - Moriniere, Romain
AU - Gantois, Nausicaa
AU - Delgado-Viscogliosi, Pilar
AU - Guyot, Karine
AU - Bosc, Stéphanie
AU - Chabé, Magali
AU - Petit, Thierry
AU - Viscogliosi, Eric
AU - Certad, Gabriela
PY - 2017/12/1
Y1 - 2017/12/1
N2 - Cryptosporidium represents a major cause of gastrointestinal illness in humans and animals including domestic, wild, and in captivity animals, and more than 30 validated species of Cryptosporidium are recognized as infectious to different hosts such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Therefore, numerous investigations have been conducted worldwide in order to shed light on the epidemiology of this parasite and to explore its potential reservoirs. Few surveys, targeting humans and animals have been carried out regarding the epidemiology of Cryptosporidium spp. in France and no data are available about the circulation of this parasite in French zoological gardens. Herein, we determined the prevalence of Cryptosporidium in animals housed in two French zoos. A total of 307 fecal samples belonging to 161 species were screened by nested PCR. Overall, Cryptosporidium DNA was detected in 1.9% of the 161 species and 1% of the total number of fecal samples tested. Additionally, three Cryptosporidium species were identified: C. galli, C. andersoni, and C. tyzzeri. To our knowledge, this is the first molecular study focused on Cryptosporidium infection in captivity animals in France. This study is of interest considering the exposure of a large number of humans and animals to this waterborne protozoan, found ubiquitously in the environment.
AB - Cryptosporidium represents a major cause of gastrointestinal illness in humans and animals including domestic, wild, and in captivity animals, and more than 30 validated species of Cryptosporidium are recognized as infectious to different hosts such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Therefore, numerous investigations have been conducted worldwide in order to shed light on the epidemiology of this parasite and to explore its potential reservoirs. Few surveys, targeting humans and animals have been carried out regarding the epidemiology of Cryptosporidium spp. in France and no data are available about the circulation of this parasite in French zoological gardens. Herein, we determined the prevalence of Cryptosporidium in animals housed in two French zoos. A total of 307 fecal samples belonging to 161 species were screened by nested PCR. Overall, Cryptosporidium DNA was detected in 1.9% of the 161 species and 1% of the total number of fecal samples tested. Additionally, three Cryptosporidium species were identified: C. galli, C. andersoni, and C. tyzzeri. To our knowledge, this is the first molecular study focused on Cryptosporidium infection in captivity animals in France. This study is of interest considering the exposure of a large number of humans and animals to this waterborne protozoan, found ubiquitously in the environment.
KW - Cryptosporidium spp
KW - France
KW - Host specificity
KW - In-captivity animals
KW - Molecular epidemiology
KW - Zoological gardens
U2 - 10.1007/s00436-017-5645-1
DO - 10.1007/s00436-017-5645-1
M3 - Article
SN - 0932-0113
VL - 116
SP - 3419
EP - 3422
JO - Parasitology Research
JF - Parasitology Research
IS - 12
ER -