Molecular Epidemiology of Cryptosporidiosis on Lamb and Goat Kid Farms in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands (Spain)

The aim of this study was to analyse and characterise <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. in sheep and goats in Gran Canaria (Spain) and to identify the risks and economic factors related to the disease. During sampling, a semi-structured survey was conducted with farmers, and faecal samples wer...

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Main Authors: María Cristina Del Río, Sergio Martín, Joaquín Quílez, José Manuel Molina, Otilia Ferrer, José Adrián Molina, Adrián Melián, Antonio Ruiz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/3/644
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author María Cristina Del Río
Sergio Martín
Joaquín Quílez
José Manuel Molina
Otilia Ferrer
José Adrián Molina
Adrián Melián
Antonio Ruiz
author_facet María Cristina Del Río
Sergio Martín
Joaquín Quílez
José Manuel Molina
Otilia Ferrer
José Adrián Molina
Adrián Melián
Antonio Ruiz
author_sort María Cristina Del Río
collection DOAJ
description The aim of this study was to analyse and characterise <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. in sheep and goats in Gran Canaria (Spain) and to identify the risks and economic factors related to the disease. During sampling, a semi-structured survey was conducted with farmers, and faecal samples were collected from lambs, goat kids, sheep, and adult goats from a total of 30 farms. Adult samples were examined microscopically for the presence of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. oocysts, with only three positive samples being found in sheep and one in goats. The PCR of the <i>SSU rRNA</i> gene was performed on all juvenile and adult samples, and positive samples from lambs (8.3%), sheep (6.9%), goat kids (23.3%), and goats (2.5%) were subjected to sequencing, detecting three of the most important species in small ruminants: <i>C. parvum</i>, <i>C. xiaoi</i>, and <i>C. ubiquitum</i>. By sequencing the <i>GP60</i> PCR products, two subtypes of <i>C. parvum</i> belonging to the IId family were identified, IIdA16G1 and IIdA23G1, with the latter being the most frequent. Although the prevalence of the disease was not very high, the zoonotic potential of <i>C. parvum</i> and the limited awareness of the parasite among farmers make surveillance and health education focused on the control of this member of Apicomplexa necessary.
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spelling doaj-art-65bcbf5f7461494c8bcbf1d520b488412025-08-20T01:49:05ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-03-0113364410.3390/microorganisms13030644Molecular Epidemiology of Cryptosporidiosis on Lamb and Goat Kid Farms in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands (Spain)María Cristina Del Río0Sergio Martín1Joaquín Quílez2José Manuel Molina3Otilia Ferrer4José Adrián Molina5Adrián Melián6Antonio Ruiz7Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35413 Arucas, SpainDepartment of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35413 Arucas, SpainDepartment of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, SpainDepartment of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35413 Arucas, SpainDepartment of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35413 Arucas, SpainDepartment of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35413 Arucas, SpainInstituto Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Sanitarias (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35016 Las Palmas, SpainDepartment of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35413 Arucas, SpainThe aim of this study was to analyse and characterise <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. in sheep and goats in Gran Canaria (Spain) and to identify the risks and economic factors related to the disease. During sampling, a semi-structured survey was conducted with farmers, and faecal samples were collected from lambs, goat kids, sheep, and adult goats from a total of 30 farms. Adult samples were examined microscopically for the presence of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. oocysts, with only three positive samples being found in sheep and one in goats. The PCR of the <i>SSU rRNA</i> gene was performed on all juvenile and adult samples, and positive samples from lambs (8.3%), sheep (6.9%), goat kids (23.3%), and goats (2.5%) were subjected to sequencing, detecting three of the most important species in small ruminants: <i>C. parvum</i>, <i>C. xiaoi</i>, and <i>C. ubiquitum</i>. By sequencing the <i>GP60</i> PCR products, two subtypes of <i>C. parvum</i> belonging to the IId family were identified, IIdA16G1 and IIdA23G1, with the latter being the most frequent. Although the prevalence of the disease was not very high, the zoonotic potential of <i>C. parvum</i> and the limited awareness of the parasite among farmers make surveillance and health education focused on the control of this member of Apicomplexa necessary.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/3/644<i>Cryptosporidium</i>sheepgoatzoonosisquestionnairerisk factors
spellingShingle María Cristina Del Río
Sergio Martín
Joaquín Quílez
José Manuel Molina
Otilia Ferrer
José Adrián Molina
Adrián Melián
Antonio Ruiz
Molecular Epidemiology of Cryptosporidiosis on Lamb and Goat Kid Farms in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands (Spain)
Microorganisms
<i>Cryptosporidium</i>
sheep
goat
zoonosis
questionnaire
risk factors
title Molecular Epidemiology of Cryptosporidiosis on Lamb and Goat Kid Farms in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands (Spain)
title_full Molecular Epidemiology of Cryptosporidiosis on Lamb and Goat Kid Farms in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands (Spain)
title_fullStr Molecular Epidemiology of Cryptosporidiosis on Lamb and Goat Kid Farms in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands (Spain)
title_full_unstemmed Molecular Epidemiology of Cryptosporidiosis on Lamb and Goat Kid Farms in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands (Spain)
title_short Molecular Epidemiology of Cryptosporidiosis on Lamb and Goat Kid Farms in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands (Spain)
title_sort molecular epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis on lamb and goat kid farms in gran canaria canary islands spain
topic <i>Cryptosporidium</i>
sheep
goat
zoonosis
questionnaire
risk factors
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/3/644
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