1
|
Holubová N, Zikmundová V, Limpouchová Z, Sak B, Konečný R, Hlásková L, Rajský D, Kopacz Z, McEvoy J, Kváč M. Cryptosporidium proventriculi sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporidiidae) in Psittaciformes birds. Eur J Protistol 2019; 69:70-87. [PMID: 30981203 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2019.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Cryptosporidiosis is a common parasitic infection in birds that is caused by more than 25 Cryptosporidium species and genotypes. Many of the genotypes that cause avian cryptosporidiosis are poorly characterized. The genetic and biological characteristics of avian genotype III are described here and these data support the establishment of a new species, Cryptosporidium proventriculi. Faecal samples from the orders Passeriformes and Psittaciformes were screened for the presence of Cryptosporidium by microscopy and sequencing, and infections were detected in 10 of 98 Passeriformes and in 27 of 402 Psittaciformes. Cryptosporidium baileyi was detected in both orders. Cryptosporidium galli and avian genotype I were found in Passeriformes, and C. avium and C. proventriculi were found in Psittaciformes. Cryptosporidium proventriculi was infectious for cockatiels under experimental conditions, with a prepatent period of six days post-infection (DPI), but not for budgerigars, chickens or SCID mice. Experimentally infected cockatiels shed oocysts more than 30 DPI, with an infection intensity ranging from 4,000 to 60,000 oocysts per gram (OPG). Naturally infected cockatiels shed oocysts with an infection intensity ranging from 2,000 to 30,000 OPG. Cryptosporidium proventriculi infects the proventriculus and ventriculus, and oocysts measure 7.4 × 5.8 μm. None of the birds infected C. proventriculi developed clinical signs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikola Holubová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Zikmundová
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Zlata Limpouchová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Bohumil Sak
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Roman Konečný
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Hlásková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Dušan Rajský
- Faculty of Forestry, Department of Applied Zoology and Game Management, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia
| | - Zaneta Kopacz
- Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Wrocław Medical University, Wrocław, Poland
| | - John McEvoy
- Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, USA
| | - Martin Kváč
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| |
Collapse
|