MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY OF CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS IN PRE-WEANED CATTLE CALVES IN EGYPT

摘要

The aim of this study was to throw more light on the genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium parvum isolates originating from pre-weaned cattle calves in Egypt using multilocus gene analysis. Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) is a global zoonotic protozoan causing severe acute diarrhoea in humans and different animals. In this study, 172 diarrhoeic faecal samples collected from pre-weaned cattle calves at Giza and Sharkia governorates of Egypt were screened by modified Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast microscopy for detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts. From them, 79 (45.9%) samples were positive for this test. Molecular characterisation using nested PCR showed a high sensitivity and accuracy in the verification of all C. parvum isolates. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of five isolates confirmed three buffalo and two cattle variants of C. parvum. Moreover, there was a high homology between present isolates with others from different governorates of Egypt and also with that of Latin America that may be due to the introduction of live animals from these countries to Egypt. In conclusion, this study demonstrates some features of Cryptosporidium transmission in cattle in Egypt and addresses the probable role of cattle calves in zoonotic cryptosporidiosis. More consideration should be focused on the role of the imported livestock in the transmission of the disease.