AUTHOR=Zhao Wei , Xu Jie , Xiao Mengran , Cao Jianping , Jiang Yanyan , Huang Huicong , Zheng Bin , Shen Yujuan 

TITLE=Prevalence and Characterization of Cryptosporidium Species and Genotypes in Four Farmed Deer Species in the Northeast of China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00430

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2020.00430

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>Cryptosporidiosis is a major public health problem in humans and animals. Information on the prevalence and molecular diversity of <italic>Cryptosporidium</italic> in farmed deer in northeastern China is limited. In this study, the prevalence of these parasites was investigated in four farmed deer species, including 125 reindeer, 109 red deer, 86 sika deer, and 18 Siberian roe deer by nested PCR amplification of the partial small subunit of ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. <italic>C. ubiquitum</italic> isolates were subtyped using nested PCR and sequence analysis of the 60-kDa glycoprotein (<italic>gp60</italic>) gene. The overall prevalence of <italic>Cryptosporidium</italic> was 7.1%, with 15.1% for sika deer, 4.0% for reindeer, 4.6% for red deer, and 5.6% for roe deer. <italic>C. ubiquitum</italic> (<italic>n</italic> = 4), <italic>C. xiaoi</italic> (<italic>n</italic> = 2), and <italic>Cryptosporidium</italic> deer genotype (<italic>n</italic> = 18) were identified. All four <italic>C. ubiquitum</italic> isolates belonged to the XIIa subtype (<italic>n</italic> = 4). This study confirms that <italic>Cryptosporidium</italic> deer genotype is widely occurring in deer in the investigated areas. Presence of zoonotic <italic>C. ubiquitum</italic> XIIa subtype indicates that farmed deer represent potential source of zoonotic cryptosporidia and might pose a threat to human health.</p>