Academic Journal
Integrated epidemiological and molecular analysis of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis isolates in dairy calves from Terceira Island, Azores.
| Τίτλος: | Integrated epidemiological and molecular analysis of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis isolates in dairy calves from Terceira Island, Azores. |
|---|---|
| Συγγραφείς: | Louro M; CIISA - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, Lisbon, 1300-477, Portugal.; Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Lisbon, Portugal.; Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária (INIAV), Oeiras, 2780-157, Portugal., Linhares JCT; Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Technology (IITAA), University of the Azores, Angra do Heroísmo, 9500-321, Portugal.; UNICOL - Cooperativa Agrícola, C.R.L, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal., Pinto CA; CBA - Biotechnology Centre of Azores, University of the Azores, Rua Capitão João d'Ávila, Angra do Heroísmo, 9700-042, Portugal., Pino-Vera R; Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Av. Astrofísico F. Sánchez, sn, La Laguna, Canary Islands, 38203, Spain.; Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain.; Programa de Doctorado de Ciencias Médicas y Farmacéuticas, Desarrollo y Calidad de Vida, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), La Laguna, Spain., Nunes T; CIISA - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, Lisbon, 1300-477, Portugal.; Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Lisbon, Portugal., Gomes J; CIISA - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, Lisbon, 1300-477, Portugal. jacinto.gomes@ipportalegre.pt.; Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Lisbon, Portugal. jacinto.gomes@ipportalegre.pt.; Elvas School of Biosciences, Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, Portalegre, Portugal. jacinto.gomes@ipportalegre.pt.; VALORIZA - Research Centre for Endogenous Resources Valorization, Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, Portalegre, Portugal. jacinto.gomes@ipportalegre.pt., Pereira da Fonseca I; CIISA - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, Lisbon, 1300-477, Portugal.; Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Lisbon, Portugal. |
| Πηγή: | Parasitology research [Parasitol Res] 2025 Dec 05; Vol. 124 (12), pp. 151. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Dec 05. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Springer International Country of Publication: Germany NLM ID: 8703571 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1432-1955 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 09320113 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Parasitol Res Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: Berlin : Springer International, c1987- |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Cryptosporidiosis*/epidemiology , Cryptosporidiosis*/parasitology , Cryptosporidium*/genetics , Cryptosporidium*/isolation & purification , Cryptosporidium*/classification , Giardiasis*/epidemiology , Giardiasis*/veterinary , Giardiasis*/parasitology , Cattle Diseases*/epidemiology , Cattle Diseases*/parasitology , Giardia lamblia*/genetics , Giardia lamblia*/isolation & purification , Giardia lamblia*/classification, Feces/parasitology ; Azores/epidemiology ; DNA, Protozoan/genetics ; Animals ; Cattle ; Prevalence ; Genotype ; Genetic Variation ; Risk Factors |
| Περίληψη: | Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis are major enteric pathogens in neonatal calves, contributing to gastrointestinal disease and raising concerns due to their zoonotic potential. Despite their global distribution, little is known about their occurrence and genetic diversity in insular regions such as the Azores archipelago (Portugal). This study investigated the prevalence, distribution, genetic diversity, and farm-level risk factors associated with these parasites in dairy calves from Terceira Island. Fecal samples (n = 142) from 28 farms were examined by microscopy, direct immunofluorescence assay (DFA), and PCR targeting multiple loci (SSU rRNA, gp60, LSU rRNA for Cryptosporidium spp.; gdh, bg, tpi for G. duodenalis). Sequencing enabled molecular identification of species, genotypes, and assemblages. Farm management data were collected by standardized questionnaires, and spatial analysis used farm location. Overall, 65.5% (93/142) of calves were infected with at least one parasite, with Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. detected in 42.3% (60/142) and 44.4% (63/142) of samples, respectively. Mixed infections occurred in 21.1% (30/142) of calves. Molecular characterization identified C. parvum (subtype IIaA15G2R1), C. bovis, and C. ryanae, as well as G. duodenalis assemblage E (predominant) and assemblage A (rare). Spatial mapping showed Cryptosporidium spp. to be widespread, while Giardia spp. displayed localized clusters. Use of paromomycin and higher hygiene scores were associated with reduced Giardia risk, whereas no risk factors were found for Cryptosporidium. These findings provide novel insights into protozoan infections in calves in the Azores and highlight the value of integrating molecular, spatial, and management data for targeted control strategies. (© 2025. The Author(s).) |
| Competing Interests: | Declarations. Ethical approval: The study was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee for Research and Teaching (CEIE) of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon (CEIE N/Ref. 039/2023). Farmers provided written informed consent for the participation of their calves. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Clinical trial number: Not applicable. |
| References: | Clin Microbiol Rev. 2011 Jan;24(1):110-40. (PMID: 21233509) Lancet. 1984 Mar 31;1(8379):734-5. (PMID: 6200740) Animals (Basel). 2021 Jan 20;11(2):. (PMID: 33498538) Mol Biol Evol. 2024 Dec 6;41(12):. (PMID: 39708372) R Soc Open Sci. 2015 May 20;2(5):140296. (PMID: 26064647) Front Vet Sci. 2023 Mar 21;10:1145096. (PMID: 37026096) Brief Bioinform. 2019 Jul 19;20(4):1160-1166. (PMID: 28968734) J Clin Microbiol. 2005 Jun;43(6):2805-9. (PMID: 15956401) Exp Parasitol. 2010 Jan;124(1):80-9. (PMID: 19358845) Appl Environ Microbiol. 2000 Dec;66(12):5492-8. (PMID: 11097935) J Clin Microbiol. 2003 Jun;41(6):2744-7. (PMID: 12791920) Pathogens. 2022 Jan 15;11(1):. (PMID: 35056051) Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract. 2020 Mar;36(1):223-238. (PMID: 32029186) J Dairy Sci. 2018 Oct;101(10):9199-9213. (PMID: 29859689) Acta Vet Scand. 2003;44(3-4):145-52. (PMID: 15074627) Int J Parasitol. 2005 Feb;35(2):207-13. (PMID: 15710441) Parasit Vectors. 2017 Oct 23;10(1):509. (PMID: 29061171) Parasit Vectors. 2019 Mar 12;12(1):95. (PMID: 30867023) J Vet Med B Infect Dis Vet Public Health. 2006 Jun;53(5):244-6. (PMID: 16732884) Emerg Infect Dis. 2003 Nov;9(11):1444-52. (PMID: 14718089) Vet Parasitol. 2006 Sep 10;140(3-4):204-16. (PMID: 16647210) Infect Genet Evol. 2004 Jun;4(2):125-30. (PMID: 15157630) Nucleic Acids Res. 2016 Jul 8;44(W1):W232-5. (PMID: 27084950) Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis. 2025 May 08;7:100264. (PMID: 40487329) J Helminthol. 2022 Jul 20;96:e51. (PMID: 35856271) Int J Parasitol. 2020 May;50(5):371-376. (PMID: 32277986) Transbound Emerg Dis. 2023 Nov 8;2023:5849842. (PMID: 40303765) Vet Parasitol. 2007 Mar 15;144(1-2):1-9. (PMID: 17097231) Mol Biol Evol. 2018 Feb 1;35(2):518-522. (PMID: 29077904) Mol Biol Evol. 2015 Jan;32(1):268-74. (PMID: 25371430) J Environ Qual. 2018 Sep;47(5):1006-1023. (PMID: 30272766) Parasite. 2016;23:13. (PMID: 26984116) Trop Anim Health Prod. 2020 Nov 24;53(1):40. (PMID: 33231751) Genome Res. 2024 Jul 23;34(6):877-887. (PMID: 38977307) Vet Res. 2017 Aug 11;48(1):42. (PMID: 28800747) Appl Environ Microbiol. 1999 Aug;65(8):3386-91. (PMID: 10427023) Animals (Basel). 2023 Jun 14;13(12):. (PMID: 37370492) Sci Rep. 2023 Nov 28;13(1):20997. (PMID: 38017032) Animals (Basel). 2021 Nov 27;11(12):. (PMID: 34944171) Nat Methods. 2017 Jun;14(6):587-589. (PMID: 28481363) Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports. 2024 Jan;47:100964. (PMID: 38199683) J Vet Diagn Invest. 2011 Mar;23(2):260-7. (PMID: 21398445) Vet Parasitol. 2025 Oct;339:110585. (PMID: 40882491) Prev Vet Med. 2022 Jun;203:105632. (PMID: 35427916) Food Waterborne Parasitol. 2025 Jun 06;40:e00272. (PMID: 40546388) Nucleic Acids Res. 2005 Jan 20;33(2):511-8. (PMID: 15661851) |
| Grant Information: | UI/BD/152818/2022 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia; Tesis 2022010038 European Social Fund Plus |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Dairy calves; Molecular epidemiology; Portugal.; Prevalence; Risk factors; Zoonoses |
| Substance Nomenclature: | 0 (DNA, Protozoan) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20251205 Date Completed: 20251206 Latest Revision: 20260919 |
| Update Code: | 20260919 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC12680760 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00436-025-08613-x |
| PMID: | 41350959 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1432-1955 |
|---|---|
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00436-025-08613-x |