Animal Husbandry and Feed Science ›› 2020, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (3): 106-110.doi: 10.12160/j.issn.1672-5190.2020.03.021

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Infection Status Investigation and Species Identification of Cryptosporidium in Resident Yak Calves in Datong County of Qinghai Province

DU Mei-zhuo, ZHANG Caidanzhuoma, ZHAO Zhi-gang, GU Dong-hua, LI Guo-ping, YI Ping-chang   

  1. Datong County Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine Station of Xining City of Qinghai Province,Xining 810199,China
  • Received:2020-03-20 Online:2020-05-30 Published:2020-06-17

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the infection status and species distribution of Cryptosporidium in resident yak calves in selected areas of Datong County of Qinghai Province. A total of 200 fecal samples were collected from the 3- to 5-month-old calves in Baoku Township and Liangjiao Township of Datong County, and were subsequently detected for the presence of Cryptosporidium. After all of the samples were purified by sucrose density gradient centrifugation, immunofluorescence test (IFT) method was used to screen the presence of Cryptosporidium, and the positive samples were further confirmed by using nested-PCR assay targeting 18S rDNA. The obtained positive PCR products were sequenced and subjected to homology analysis to identify the Cryptosporidium at species level. The results showed that there were 3 samples confirmed positive for the presence of Cryptosporidium by using IFT, with the positive rate of 1.5% (3/200); the 18S rDNA of these positive samples were amplified by nested-PCR assay, and 2 of them produced a positive product with length of 500 bp; after sequencing, the obtained sequences were designated as QHDTC201901 and QHDTC201902; phylogenetic analysis revealed that two species of Cryptosporidium were identified, Cryptosporidium andersoni C. andersoni) and Cryptosporidium bovis C. bovis), with a total infection rate of 1.0% (2/200). In conclusion, the Cryptosporidium infection in yak calves in selected areas of Datong County was observed, and the prevalent species were molecularly identified as C. andersoni and C. bovis. This study provides basic clinical data for the prevention and control of yak cryptosporidiosis in this region.

Key words: yak calves, Cryptosporidium, 18S rDNA, immunofluorescence assay, nested-PCR assay

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