Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Prevalence and molecular identification of Cryptosporidium spp. in pigs in Henan, China

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Parasitology Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The distribution and public health significance of Cryptosporidium species/genotypes in pigs differ among geographic areas and studies. To characterize the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis in pigs in Henan, China, a total of 1,350 fecal samples from 14 farms in ten prefectures in Henan Province were examined. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium was 8.2% (111/1,350), with the highest infection rate (79/383 or 20.6%) in 1–2-month-old piglets and the lowest infection rates in 3–6-month-old pigs. Cryptosporidium-positive samples from 108 animals were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the small subunit rRNA gene, and 35 were further analyzed by DNA sequencing of the PCR products. Two Cryptosporidium species/genotype were identified, including Cryptosporidium suis (94/108) and the Cryptosporidium pig genotype II (14/108). C. suis infection was more common in younger piglets whereas the pig genotype II was relatively common in older pigs. These findings suggest that pigs are not a major source of zoonotic Cryptosporidium in the study area.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Atwill ER, Sweitzer RA, Pereira MG, Gardner IA, Van Vuren D, Boyce WM (1997) Prevalence of and associated risk factors for shedding Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts and Giardia cysts within feral pig populations in California. Appl Environ Microbiol 63:3946–3949

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen F, Huang K (2007) Prevalence and phylogenetic analysis of Cryptosporidium in pigs in Eastern China. Zoonoses Public Health 54:393–400

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Enemark HL, Ahrens P, Bille-Hansen V, Heegaard PM, Vigre H, Thamsborg SM, Lind P (2003) Cryptosporidium parvum: infectivity and pathogenicity of the ‘porcine’ genotype. Parasitology 126:407–416

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2004) http://faostat.fao.org/site/339/default.aspx

  • Fayer R (2010) Taxonomy and species delimitation in Cryptosporidium. Exp Parasitol 124:90–97

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Featherstone CA, Marshall JA, Giles M, Sayers AR, Pritchard GC (2010) Cryptosporidium species infection in pigs in East Anglia. Vet Rec 166:51–52

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fleta J, Sanchez-Acedo C, Clavel A, Quilez J (1995) Detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in extra-intestinal tissues of sheep and pigs. Vet Parasitol 59:201–205

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Guselle N, Appelbee AJ, Olson ME (2003) Biology of Cryptosporidium parvum in pigs: from weaning to market. Vet Parasitol 113:7–18

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hamnes IS, Gjerde BK, Forberg T, Robertson LJ (2007) Occurrence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in suckling piglets in Norway. Vet Parasitol 144:222–233

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hsu BM, Wun HY, Hsu CL (2008) Detection and species identification of Cryptosporidium from Taiwan feeding animals. J Parasitol 94:252–256

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang JS, Bi KX, Xu YQ, Zhao YR (1992) Survey on the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in pigs in Beijing area. Chin J Vet Med 18:3–4 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson J, Buddle R, Reid S, Armson A, Ryan UM (2008) Prevalence of Cryptosporidium genotypes in pre and post-weaned pigs in Australia. Exp Parasitol 119:418–421

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kvác M, Hanzlíková D, Sak B, Kvetonová D (2009a) Prevalence and age-related infection of Cryptosporidium suis. C. muris and Cryptosporidium pig genotype II in pigs on a farm complex in the Czech Republic. Vet Parasitol 160:319–322

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kvác M, Kvetonová D, Sak B, Ditrich O (2009b) Cryptosporidium pig genotype II in immunocompetent man. Emerg Infect Dis 15:982–983

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kvác M, Sak B, Hanzlíková D, Kotilová J, Kvetonová D (2009c) Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium isolates from pigs at slaughterhouses in South Bohemia, Czech Republic. Parasitol Res 104:425–428

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Langkjaer RB, Vigre H, Enemark HL, Maddox-Hyttel C (2007) Molecular and phylogenetic characterization of Cryptosporidium and Giardia from pigs and cattle in Denmark. Parasitology 134:339–350

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leoni F, Amar C, Nichols G, Pedraza-Díaz S, McLauchlin J (2006) Genetic analysis of Cryptosporidium from 2414 humans with diarrhoea in England between 1985 and 2000. J Med Microbiol 55:703–707

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Liu ZN, Li DX, Cao XM, Li JF (1993) Inestigation on the prevalence of Cryptosporidium in pigs. Chin J Vet Med 19:5–6 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Maddox-Hyttel C, Langkjaer RB, Enemark HL, Vigre H (2006) Cryptosporidium and Giardia in different age groups of Danish cattle and pigs-occurrence and management associated risk factors. Vet Parasitol 141:48–59

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan UM, Sargent KD, Desplazes P, Forbes DA, Spano F, Hertzberg H, Elliot A, Thompson RCA (1998) Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium from various hosts. Parasitology 117:31–37

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan UM, Buddle JR, Elliot A, Thompson RC (1999) Molecular and biological characterization of Cryptosporidium in pigs. Aust Vet J 77:44–47

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nichols GL, Chalmers RM, Sopwith W, Regan M, Hunter CA, Grenfell P, Harrison F, Lane C (2006) Cryptosporidiosis: a report on the surveillance and epidemiology of Cryptosporidium infection in England and Wales. Drinking Water Directorate Contrast Number DWI 70/2/201. Drinking Water Inspectorate, UK, p 142

    Google Scholar 

  • Plutzer J, Karanis P (2009) Genetic polymorphism in Cryptosporidium species: an update. Vet Parasitol 165:187–199

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Qiu SX, Lu QB, Qi M, Zhang XH, Duan ZX, Ning CS, Jian FC, Zhang LX (2008) The prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in pigs in Henan province. Chin J Zoonoses 24:481–482 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Quílez J, Sánchez-Acedo C, Clave A, del Cacho E, López-Bernad F (1996) Prevalence of Cryptosporidium infections in pigs in Aragón (northeastern Spain). Vet Parasitol 67:83–88

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan UM, Samarasinghe B, Read C, Buddle JR, Robertson ID, Thompson RC (2003) Identification of a novel Cryptosporidium genotype in pigs. Appl Environ Microbiol 69:3970–3974

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan UM, Monis P, Enemark HL, Sulaiman I, Samarasinghe B, Read C, Buddle R, Robertson I, Zhou L, Thompson RC, Xiao L (2004) Cryptosporidium suis n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporidiidae) in pigs (Sus scrofa). J Parasitol 90:769–773

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan U, Read C, Hawkins P, Warnecke M, Swanson P, Griffith M, Deere D, Cunningham M, Cox P (2005) Genotypes of Cryptosporidium from Sydney water catchment areas. J Appl Microbiol 98:1221–1229

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Suárez-Luengas L, Clavel A, Quílez J, Goñi-Cepero MP, Torres E, Sánchez-Acedo C, del Cacho E (2007) Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium isolates from pigs in Zaragoza (northeastern Spain). Vet Parasitol 148:231–235

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson JD, Gibson TJ, Plewniak F, Jeanmougin F, Higgins DG (1997) The ClustalX windows interface: flexible strategies for multiple sequence alignment aided by quality analysis tools. Nucleic Acids Res 24:4876–4882

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vitovec J, Hamadejova K, Landova L, Kvac M, Kvetonova D, Sak B (2006) Prevalence and pathogenicity of Cryptosporidium suis in pre- and post-weaned pigs. J Vet Med B Infect Dis Vet Pub Health 53:239–243

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang JC, Yan WC, Zhang LX, Ning CS, Zhu HL, Liang N, Wang HY, Wang RJ (2007) Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the hsp70 gene of Cryptosporidium isolates from pigs. Chin J Vet Med 43:6–9 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao L (2009) Molecular epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis: an update. Exp Parasitol

  • Xiao L, Bern C, Limor J, Sulaiman I, Roberts J, Checkley W, Cabrera L, Gilman RH, Lal AA (2001) Identification of 5 types of Cryptosporidium parasites in children in Lima, Peru. J Infect Dis 183:492–497

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao L, Bern C, Arrowood M, Sulaiman I, Zhou L, Kawai V, Vivar A, Lal AA, Gilman RH (2002) Identification of the cryptosporidium pig genotype in a human patient. J Infect Dis 185:1846–1848

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao L, Fayer R, Ryan U, Upton SJ (2004) Cryptosporidium taxonomy: recent advances and implications for public health. J Clin Microbiol 17:72–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao L, Moore JE, Ukoh U, Gatei W, Lowery CJ, Murphy TM, Dooley JS, Millar BC, Rooney PJ, Rao JR (2006) Prevalence and identity of Cryptosporidium spp. in pig slurry. Appl Environ Microbiol 72:4461–4463

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yan WC, He GF, Ning CS, Zhang LX, Liang HD, Kang K, Sun MF (2006) Epidemiological survey of pig Cryptosporidium in Henan and artificial infections with the strain SUCP. J Henan Agricul Univ 40:69–73 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang DM, Huang JG (2001) Investigation on the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in pig and dairy cattle in Guangzhou city. Chin J Zoonoses 17:100–101 (in Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang LX, Ning CS, Jiang YF, Xu ZM (1998) Prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in pigs in the suburban areas of Zhengtzhou city. Chin J. Vet Parasitol 6:19–20 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao CC, Li PY (2003) Epidemiologic survey on pig cryptosporidiosis in Fengtai county in Anhui province. Chin J Vet Parasitol 11:42–44 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao CC, Li PY, Wu L, Chen LZ, Yu WY (2005) Epidemiological survey on swine cryptosporidiosis in Anhui province. Anim Husb Vet Med 37:18–20 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou RQ, Huang HC, Wei GH, Liu P, Li Q, Wang RH, Nie K (2007) Epidemiology survey of pig Cryptosporidium in Chongqing and identification of Cyptosporidium species. J Southwest Chin Norm Univ 32:82–84 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zintl A, Neville D, Maguire D, Fanning S, Mulcahy G, Smith HV, De Waal T (2007) Prevalence of Cryptosporidium species in intensively farmed pigs in Ireland. Parasitology 134:1575–1582

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

This study was supported in part by the Ministry of Health Special Funds of Public Sector Research (No. 200808012), Key National Science & Technology Specific Projects (No. 2008ZX10004-011), and by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30928019).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, People’s Republic of China

    Rongjun Wang, Shuxing Qiu, Fuchun Jian, Sumei Zhang, Longxian Zhang, Changshen Ning & Meng Qi

  2. National Institute for Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, 200025, People’s Republic of China

    Yujuan Shen & Jianping Cao

  3. Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Disease, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA

    Lihua Xiao

Authors
  1. Rongjun Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shuxing Qiu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fuchun Jian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sumei Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yujuan Shen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Longxian Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Changshen Ning
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Jianping Cao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Meng Qi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Lihua Xiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Longxian Zhang or Lihua Xiao.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, R., Qiu, S., Jian, F. et al. Prevalence and molecular identification of Cryptosporidium spp. in pigs in Henan, China. Parasitol Res 107, 1489–1494 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-2024-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-2024-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation