AUTHOR=Yun Chi Sun , Moon Bo-Youn , Lee Kichan , Kang Su Min , Ku Bok-Kyung , Hwang Mi-Hye 

TITLE=The detection and phylogenetic characterization of Cryptosporidium, Cystoisospora, and Giardia duodenalis of cats in South Korea

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2023.1296118

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2023.1296118

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p><italic>Cryptosporidium</italic>, <italic>Cystoisospora</italic>, and <italic>Giardia duodenalis</italic> are gastrointestinal protozoa parasites that cause diarrhea in various animals. However, information regarding the detection and phylogenetic characterization of gastrointestinal protozoa parasites in cats is limited throughout South Korea. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the detection and identify subspecies of gastrointestinal protozoa parasites in cats from South Korea. </p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>A total of 290 fecal samples were collected from stray, companion, and shelter cats in six provinces. <italic>Cryptosporidium</italic>, <italic>Cystoisospora</italic>, and <italic>G. duodenalis</italic> were identified by PCR. All positive samples were subtyped by PCR and sequencing of <italic>gp60</italic>, <italic>ITS-1</italic>, <italic>tpi</italic>, <italic>bg</italic>, and <italic>gdh</italic>. </p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>The overall detection of gastrointestinal protozoan parasitic infection was 17.93%. <italic>G. duodenalis</italic> was the most prevalent, with 7.93%, followed by <italic>Cystoisospora</italic> spp. (7.24%) and <italic>Cryptosporidium</italic> spp. (4.48%). In addition, <italic>C. felis</italic> (n=10), <italic>C. parvum</italic> (n=2), <italic>C. ryanae</italic> (n=1), <italic>Cystoisospora felis</italic> (n=14), <italic>Cystoisospora suis</italic> (n=5), <italic>Cystoisospora ohioensis</italic> (n=1), <italic>Cystoisospora</italic> spp. were identified in subspecies analysis of positive samples. <italic>C. felis</italic> showed a significant association with diarrhea (7.81%) and living condition (6.04%), and Cystoisospora felis in diarreha (9.38%) according to detection. Through phylogenetic analysis of the tpi, bg, and gdh genes from 23 G. duodenalispositive samples, it was confirmed that the samples of present study belonged to assemblage A, B, C, and D. </p></sec><sec><title>Discussion</title><p>South Korean cats have a high rate of gastrointestinal protozoan parasites infection with cat-specific Cryptosporidium and Cystoisospora, which are associated with living conditions and diarrhea symptoms. Moreover, zoonotic and other animal-specific subtype of protozoan parasites have been detected in cat feces.</p></sec>