Asymptomatic Cryptosporidium infections in ewes and lambs are a source of environmental contamination with zoonotic genotypes of Cryptosporidium parvum.

ABSTRACT: Protozoan parasites of the Cryptosporidium genus cause severe cryptosporidiosis in newborn lambs. However, asymptomatic infections also occur frequently in lambs and ewes. In sheep, the most commonly detected Cryptosporidium species are C. ubiquitum, C. xiaoi and C. parvum. Due to a lack of relevant information about such infections in France, we investigated the situation on five dairy sheep farms in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques Department in south-western France in December 2017. Individual fecal samples were collected from 79 female lambs (5-17 days old) and their mothers (72 ewes). Oocysts were screened using Heine staining before and after Bailenger concentrations. Cryptosporidium species identification and genotyping were performed using real-time PCR and gp60 gene sequencing. No cases o

SUBMITTER: Bordes L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7608980 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature