Objective Pigs, as hosts of zoonotic Cryptosporidium species/genotypes, are domestic animals with public health significance. The present study was to characterize the infection rate and species/genotype of Cryptospor...Objective Pigs, as hosts of zoonotic Cryptosporidium species/genotypes, are domestic animals with public health significance. The present study was to characterize the infection rate and species/genotype of Cryptosporidium in pre-weaned and post-weaned pigs from Shanghai and Shaoxing, China. Methods A total of 208 fecal samples （42 from pre-weaned piglets, and 166 from post-weaned pigs） were examined by nested PCR of the 185 rRNA gene and analyzed by phylogenetic DNA fragment sequencing of secondary PCR products. Results Infection was detected in 79 samples （19/42 pre-weaned piglets, and 60/166 post-weaned pigs）. C. suis （14/79） and Cryptosporidium pig genotype II （65/79） were identified; piglets were more susceptible to the former （13/14） and post-weaned pigs to the latter （59/65）. Conclusion Infection of Cryptosporidium spp. in pigs was age-specific; piglets were more susceptible to C. suis while pigs were more susceptible to Cryptosporidium pig genotype II. These findings combined with the isolation of the two Cryptosporidium from water suggest that pigs may be a source of zoonotic Cryptosporidium water pollution. Improvements in pig feeding practices, sewage discharge, feces disposal and field worker protection are therefore important to prevent potential public health problems.展开更多
基金supported by grants from the Chinese Special Program for Scientific Research of Public Health (No.200802012)the National S&T Major Program of China (No.2009ZX10004-201 and No.2012ZX10004-201)
文摘Objective Pigs, as hosts of zoonotic Cryptosporidium species/genotypes, are domestic animals with public health significance. The present study was to characterize the infection rate and species/genotype of Cryptosporidium in pre-weaned and post-weaned pigs from Shanghai and Shaoxing, China. Methods A total of 208 fecal samples （42 from pre-weaned piglets, and 166 from post-weaned pigs） were examined by nested PCR of the 185 rRNA gene and analyzed by phylogenetic DNA fragment sequencing of secondary PCR products. Results Infection was detected in 79 samples （19/42 pre-weaned piglets, and 60/166 post-weaned pigs）. C. suis （14/79） and Cryptosporidium pig genotype II （65/79） were identified; piglets were more susceptible to the former （13/14） and post-weaned pigs to the latter （59/65）. Conclusion Infection of Cryptosporidium spp. in pigs was age-specific; piglets were more susceptible to C. suis while pigs were more susceptible to Cryptosporidium pig genotype II. These findings combined with the isolation of the two Cryptosporidium from water suggest that pigs may be a source of zoonotic Cryptosporidium water pollution. Improvements in pig feeding practices, sewage discharge, feces disposal and field worker protection are therefore important to prevent potential public health problems.
