Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Natural infections with Cryptosporidium in the endangered spotted souslik (Spermophilus suslicus)

  • Published:
Acta Parasitologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cryptosporidium is an intestinal protozoan parasite prevalent in a wide range of mammals. Although it has been recorded in many hosts, its impact on endangered species is poorly understood. Here we present a preliminary study of four populations of the highly threatened spotted souslik (Spermophilus suslicus), living in the westernmost part of the species range. The populations inhabit fragmented habitats and suffer from loss of genetic variation. An IFA test revealed that 35.9% of sampled animals (41/114) was infected with Cryptosporidium and none with Giardia. The prevalence and infection intensity differed among the populations. In areas grazed by cattle it was about 3 folds higher, which suggests a possible transmission route. To the authors best knowledge the present study is the first report of Cryptosporidium infections in S. suslicus.

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

  • Alexander J., Stimson W.H. 1988. Sex hormones and the course of parasitic infection. Parasitology Today, 4, 198–193. DOI: 10.1016/0169-4758(88)90077-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Altizer S., Harvell D., Friedle E. 2003. Rapid evolutionary dynamics and disease threats to biodiversity. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 18, 589–596. DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2003.08.013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Appelbee A.J., Thompson R.C.A., Olson M.E. 2005. Giardia and Cryptosporidium in mammalian wildlife — current status and future needs. Trends in Parasitology, 21, 370–376. DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2005.06.004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bajer A. 2008. Between-year variation and spatial dynamics of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. infections in naturally infected rodent populations. Parasitology, 135, 1629–1649. DOI: 10.1017/S0031182008004952.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bednarska M., Bajer A., Siński E., Girouard A.S., Tamang L., Graczyk T.K. 2007. Fluorescent in situ hybridization as a tool to retrospectively identify Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia in samples from terrestrial mammalian wildlife. Parasitology Research, 100, 455–460. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-006-0276-y.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Biedrzycka A., Kloch A., Buczek M., Radwan J. 2011. Major histocompatibility complex DRB genes and blood parasite loads in fragmented populations of the spotted suslik Spermophilus suslicus. Mammalian Biology, 76, 672–677.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biedrzycka A., Konopiński M.K. 2007. Genetic variability and the effect of habitat fragmentation in spotted suslik Spermophilus suslicus populations from two different regions. Conservation Genetics, 9, 1211–1221. DOI: 10.1007/s10592-007-9442-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biedrzycka A., Radwan J. 2008. Population fragmentation and major histocompatibility complex variation in the spotted suslik, Spermophilus suslicus. Molecular Ecology, 17, 4801–4811. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2008.03955.x.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brower M. 2006. Practitioner’s guide to pocket pet and rabbit theriogenology. Theriogenology, 66, 618–623. DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2006.04.015.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cacciò S.M., Thompson A., McLauchlin J., Smith H.V. 2005. Unravelling Cryptosporidium and Giardia epidemiology. Trends in Parasitology, 21, 430–437. DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2005.06.013.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crawley M.J. 2007. The R book. Wiley and Sons, Chichester. DOI: 10.1002/9780470515075.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • De Castro F., Bolker B. 2005. Mechanisms of disease-induced extinction. Ecology Letters, 8, 117–126. DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2004.00693.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gondek A. 2004. Spotted souslik in Poland — threat and conservation programme. Biuletyn Monitoringu Przyrody, 1/2004, 21–27 (in Polish).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hope K., Goldsmith M.L., Graczyk T. 2004. Parasitic health of olive baboons in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda. Veterinary Parasitology, 122, 165–170. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2004.03.017.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lyles A.M., Dobson A.P. 1993. Infectious disease and intensive management: population dynamics, threatened hosts, and their parasites. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 24, 315–326.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mbora D.N., McPeek M.A. 2009. Host density and human activities mediate increased parasite prevalence and richness in primates threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation. Journal of Animal Ecology, 78, 210–218. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2008.01481.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McCallum H., Dobson A. 2002. Disease, habitat fragmentation and conservation. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 269, 2041–2049. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2002.2079.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Monis P.T., Thompson R.C. 2003. Cryptosporidium and Giardiazoonoses: fact or fiction? Infection, Genetics and Evolution, 3, 233–244. DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2003.08.003.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan U.M., Sturdee A.P., Singleton G., Gomez M.S., Gracenea M., Torres J., Hamilton S.G., Woodside D.P., Thompson R.C. 1999. The Cryptosporidium “Mouse” Genotype Is Conserved across Geographic Areas. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 37, 1302–1305.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nizeyi J.B., Cranfield M.R., Graczyk T.K. 2002. Cattle near the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda, as a reservoir of Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia duodenalis for local community and free-ranging gorillas. Parasitology Research, 88, 380–385. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-001-0543-x.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paziewska A., Bednarska M., Niewegłowski H., Karbowiak G., Bajer A. 2007. Distribution of Cryptosporidium and Giardia spp. in selected species of protected and game mammals from North-Eastern Poland. Annales of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 14, 265–270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Próchnicki K. (ed.) 2008. Spotted suslik — a monography. Wydawnictwo Klub Przyrodników, Świebodzin (in Polish with English summary).

    Google Scholar 

  • R Development Core Team. 2010. R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria, ISBN 3-900051-07-0.

  • Radwan J., Biedrzycka A., Babik W. 2010. Does reduced MHC diversity decrease viability of vertebrate populations? Biologica Conservation, 143, 537–544. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2009.07.026.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sturdee A.P., Bodley-Tickell A.T., Archer A., Chalmers R.M. 2003. Long-term study of Cryptosporidium prevalence on a lowland farm in the United Kingdom. Veterinary Parasitology, 116, 97–113. DOI: 10.1016/S0304-4017(03)00261-9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Surdacki S. 1963. Changes in distribution and numbers of Citellus suslicus in Lublin area from 1954 to 1961. Acta Theriologica, 7, 79–90 (in Polish).

    Google Scholar 

  • Warren K.S,. Swan R.A., Morgan-Ryan U.M., Friend J.A., Elliot A. 2003. Cryptosporidium muris infection in bilbies (Macrotis lagotis). Australian Veterinary Journal, 81, 739–741. DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2003.tb14602.x.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao L., Fayer R., Ryan U., Upton S.J. 2004. Cryptosporidium Taxonomy: Recent Advances and Implications for Public Health. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 17, 72–97. DOI: 10.1128/CMR.17.1.72-97.2004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, ul. Gronostajowa 7, 30-397, Kraków, Poland

    Agnieszka Kloch

  2. Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland

    Anna Bajer

Authors
  1. Agnieszka Kloch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anna Bajer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Agnieszka Kloch.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kloch, A., Bajer, A. Natural infections with Cryptosporidium in the endangered spotted souslik (Spermophilus suslicus). Acta Parasit. 57, 13–19 (2012). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11686-012-0006-9

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11686-012-0006-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation