Molecular Epidemiology Of Three Diarrhoeal Intestinal Protozoa In Companion Animals And Laboratory Animals In Shanghai

Cryptosporidium spp.,Giardia lamblia and Cyclosepora cayetanensis are three important intestinal parasites,which can cause cryptosporidiosis,giardiasis and cyclosporosis.These parasites can infect most of people and animals,and causing diarrhea.For children or young animals,or immunodeficient patients,they can cause death and take serious threat to people and animals.Nowadays,the infection of these parasites in companion animals(dog and cat)and laboratory animals(mouse and rabbit)in Shanghai is not clear.Therefore,molecular epidemiology of companion and laboratory animals in Shanghai were studied by nested PCR.These results will help us to know the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp.,G.lamblia and C.cayetanensis in companion and experimental animals and evaluate their potential threat to human.In order to achieve this goal,the small subunit ribosomal RNA(SSU r RNA)gene of Cryptosporidium,the triose phosphate isomerase(TPI)gene of G.lamblia and the SSU r RNA gene of C.cayetanensis were used as target genes.PCR products were sequenced to identify the infected species or genotypes.(1)Companion animalsIn this study,388 companion animals(dog and cat)from 17 different places in Shanghai were tested,including 301 dogs and 87 cats.The results were shown as follows:1)The total infection rate of Cryptosporidium in companion animals was 3.9%(15/388),in which of 4.9%(15/307)in dogs,and Cryptosporidium infection in cats was negative(0/87).Among the dog samples,the highest infection rate of Cryptosporidium was found in stray dog and cat shelter(9.2%,7/76),followed by PET farms(5.0%,3/60),and pet clinics showed the lowest infection rate(2.9%,5/171),with significant difference between different places(P < 0.05).The highest infection season was found in autumn in dogs(8.1%,5/62),followed by winter(7.1%,2/28)and spring(5.0%,8/157),no significant difference was found among different seasons(P > 0.05).Three Cryptosporidium species were found in dogs,and C.parvum(73.3%,11/15)was the dominant species,followed by C.canis(20.0%,3/15)and C.andersoni(6.7%,1/15).2)The total infection rate of G.lamblia was 4.6%(18/388)in companion animals,in which of 1.0%(3/307)in dogs and 18.5%(15/81)in cats.The infection rate in pet clinics(1.3%,1/76)was closely to that in stray dog and cat shelters(1.2%,2/171)in dogs,while PET farms were not found G.lamblia infection.The infection rate in stray dog and cat shelters(24.0%,12/50)in cats was higher than that in pet clinics(9.7%,3/3).Spring was the unique season for G.lamblia infection in dogs(1.9%,3/157),while summer was the unique season in cats(37.0%,15/40).Four genotypes were found,in which assembly A(n = 3)was found in dogs,and assembly A(n = 3),B(n =7),C(n = 3)and F(n = 1)were found in cats,and assembly B was the dominant genotype.3)Neither dogs nor cats were found C.cayetanensis infection in companion animals.(2)Laboratory animalsIn this study,343 samples from laboratory animals center of Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute were detected by nested PCR,including 139 rabbits and 204 cages of mice samples.The results were shown as follows:1)The total infection rate of Cryptosporidium in laboratory animals was 0.6%(2/343),in which of 1.4%(2/139)in rabbits,and mice were not found Cryptosporidium infection(0/204).Autumn was the unique season for Cryptosporidium infection(5.7%,2/35),and C.cuniculus was the unique species in rabbits.2)The total infection rate of G.lambliain laboratory animals was 2.6%(9/343),in which 6.5%(9/139)in rabbits,while mice was not found G.lamblia infection(0/204).Summer was the highest infection season(25.0%,5/20),followed by spring(18.0%,2/11),autumn(2.9%,1/35)and winter(1.4%,1/73).Two genotypes in the rabbits were found,including assembly A(n=2)and B(n=7).3)Neither rabbits nor mice were found C.cayetanensis infection in laboratory animals.In conclusion,the molecular epidemiology of three diarrheal intestinal protozoa in companion animals(dog and cat)and laboratory animals(mouse and rabbit)in Shanghai were studied.The detection of parasites infection in laboratory animals was the first report in Shanghai.These results showed that both Cryptosporidium and G.lamblia were found in dogs and rabbits,but only G.lamblia was found in cats,and mice were not found any parasite infection.G.lamblia infection was lower than Cryptosporidium infection in dog,while G.lamblia infection in cats were higher than dogs,indicating that Cryptosporidium infection was more harmful in dogs,and G.lamblia infection was more serious in cats.In this study,most of Cryptosporidium species and G.lamblia genotypes are zoonotic species and genotypes.Therefore,people who contact with companion and laboratory animals may pose a risk of infection,and needs to be paid enough attention.In short,three diarrhoeal intestinal protozoa in companion and laboratory animals in Shanghai were studied,the results will help us to assess human risk that caused by three intestinal protozoa and provide data support for disease prevention and control.