Prevalence, species identification and genotyping Cryptosporidium from livestock and deer in a catchment in the Cairngorms with a history of a contaminated public water supply
Abstract Background The apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium represents a threat to water quality and public health. An important zoonotic species involved in human cryptosporidiosis from contaminated water is Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum), the main reservoirs of which are known to be farm liv...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2015-02-01
|
| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-015-0684-x |
| _version_ | 1827933739030675456 |
|---|---|
| author | Beth Wells Hannah Shaw Emily Hotchkiss Janice Gilray Remedios Ayton James Green Frank Katzer Andrew Wells Elisabeth Innes |
| author_facet | Beth Wells Hannah Shaw Emily Hotchkiss Janice Gilray Remedios Ayton James Green Frank Katzer Andrew Wells Elisabeth Innes |
| author_sort | Beth Wells |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium represents a threat to water quality and public health. An important zoonotic species involved in human cryptosporidiosis from contaminated water is Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum), the main reservoirs of which are known to be farm livestock particularly neonatal calves, although adult cattle, sheep, lambs and wildlife are also known to contribute to catchment loading of C. parvum. This study aimed to establish Cryptosporidium prevalence, species and genotype in livestock, deer and water in a catchment with a history of Cryptosporidium contamination in the public water supply. Methods A novel method of processing adult ruminant faecal sample was used to concentrate oocysts, followed by a nested species specific multiplex (nssm) PCR, targeting the 18S rRNA gene, to speciate Cryptosporidium. A multilocus fragment typing (MLFT) tool was used, in addition to GP60 sequencing, to genotype C. parvum positive samples. Results A very high prevalence of Cryptosporidium was detected, with speciation identifying a predominance of C. parvum in livestock, deer and water samples. Four GP60 subtypes were detected within C. parvum with the majority IIaA15G2R1 which was detected in all host species and on all farms. Multilocus fragment typing further differentiated these into 6 highly related multilocus genotypes. Conclusion The high prevalence of Cryptosporidium detected was possibly due to a combination of the newly developed sample processing technique used and a reflection of the high rates of the parasite present in this catchment. The predominance of C. parvum in livestock and deer sampled in this study suggested that they represented a significant risk to water quality and public health. Genotyping results suggested that the parasite is being transmitted locally within the study area, possibly via free-roaming sheep and deer. Further studies are needed to verify particular host associations with subtypes/MLGs. Land and livestock management solutions to reduce Cryptosporidium on farm and in the catchment are planned with the aim to improve animal health and production as well as water quality and public health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:29:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fcfd420d44974a5180002826561a3037 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:29:00Z |
| publishDate | 2015-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-fcfd420d44974a5180002826561a30372023-06-04T11:14:25ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052015-02-018111310.1186/s13071-015-0684-xPrevalence, species identification and genotyping Cryptosporidium from livestock and deer in a catchment in the Cairngorms with a history of a contaminated public water supplyBeth Wells0Hannah Shaw1Emily Hotchkiss2Janice Gilray3Remedios Ayton4James Green5Frank Katzer6Andrew Wells7Elisabeth Innes8Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science ParkMoredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science ParkMoredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science ParkMoredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science ParkMoredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science ParkScottish Water, Juniper House, Heriot Watt Research CentreMoredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science ParkThe Crown EstateMoredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science ParkAbstract Background The apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium represents a threat to water quality and public health. An important zoonotic species involved in human cryptosporidiosis from contaminated water is Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum), the main reservoirs of which are known to be farm livestock particularly neonatal calves, although adult cattle, sheep, lambs and wildlife are also known to contribute to catchment loading of C. parvum. This study aimed to establish Cryptosporidium prevalence, species and genotype in livestock, deer and water in a catchment with a history of Cryptosporidium contamination in the public water supply. Methods A novel method of processing adult ruminant faecal sample was used to concentrate oocysts, followed by a nested species specific multiplex (nssm) PCR, targeting the 18S rRNA gene, to speciate Cryptosporidium. A multilocus fragment typing (MLFT) tool was used, in addition to GP60 sequencing, to genotype C. parvum positive samples. Results A very high prevalence of Cryptosporidium was detected, with speciation identifying a predominance of C. parvum in livestock, deer and water samples. Four GP60 subtypes were detected within C. parvum with the majority IIaA15G2R1 which was detected in all host species and on all farms. Multilocus fragment typing further differentiated these into 6 highly related multilocus genotypes. Conclusion The high prevalence of Cryptosporidium detected was possibly due to a combination of the newly developed sample processing technique used and a reflection of the high rates of the parasite present in this catchment. The predominance of C. parvum in livestock and deer sampled in this study suggested that they represented a significant risk to water quality and public health. Genotyping results suggested that the parasite is being transmitted locally within the study area, possibly via free-roaming sheep and deer. Further studies are needed to verify particular host associations with subtypes/MLGs. Land and livestock management solutions to reduce Cryptosporidium on farm and in the catchment are planned with the aim to improve animal health and production as well as water quality and public health.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-015-0684-xCryptosporidiumLivestockDeerWaterCatchmentC. parvum |
| spellingShingle | Beth Wells Hannah Shaw Emily Hotchkiss Janice Gilray Remedios Ayton James Green Frank Katzer Andrew Wells Elisabeth Innes Prevalence, species identification and genotyping Cryptosporidium from livestock and deer in a catchment in the Cairngorms with a history of a contaminated public water supply Parasites & Vectors Cryptosporidium Livestock Deer Water Catchment C. parvum |
| title | Prevalence, species identification and genotyping Cryptosporidium from livestock and deer in a catchment in the Cairngorms with a history of a contaminated public water supply |
| title_full | Prevalence, species identification and genotyping Cryptosporidium from livestock and deer in a catchment in the Cairngorms with a history of a contaminated public water supply |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence, species identification and genotyping Cryptosporidium from livestock and deer in a catchment in the Cairngorms with a history of a contaminated public water supply |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence, species identification and genotyping Cryptosporidium from livestock and deer in a catchment in the Cairngorms with a history of a contaminated public water supply |
| title_short | Prevalence, species identification and genotyping Cryptosporidium from livestock and deer in a catchment in the Cairngorms with a history of a contaminated public water supply |
| title_sort | prevalence species identification and genotyping cryptosporidium from livestock and deer in a catchment in the cairngorms with a history of a contaminated public water supply |
| topic | Cryptosporidium Livestock Deer Water Catchment C. parvum |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-015-0684-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bethwells prevalencespeciesidentificationandgenotypingcryptosporidiumfromlivestockanddeerinacatchmentinthecairngormswithahistoryofacontaminatedpublicwatersupply AT hannahshaw prevalencespeciesidentificationandgenotypingcryptosporidiumfromlivestockanddeerinacatchmentinthecairngormswithahistoryofacontaminatedpublicwatersupply AT emilyhotchkiss prevalencespeciesidentificationandgenotypingcryptosporidiumfromlivestockanddeerinacatchmentinthecairngormswithahistoryofacontaminatedpublicwatersupply AT janicegilray prevalencespeciesidentificationandgenotypingcryptosporidiumfromlivestockanddeerinacatchmentinthecairngormswithahistoryofacontaminatedpublicwatersupply AT remediosayton prevalencespeciesidentificationandgenotypingcryptosporidiumfromlivestockanddeerinacatchmentinthecairngormswithahistoryofacontaminatedpublicwatersupply AT jamesgreen prevalencespeciesidentificationandgenotypingcryptosporidiumfromlivestockanddeerinacatchmentinthecairngormswithahistoryofacontaminatedpublicwatersupply AT frankkatzer prevalencespeciesidentificationandgenotypingcryptosporidiumfromlivestockanddeerinacatchmentinthecairngormswithahistoryofacontaminatedpublicwatersupply AT andrewwells prevalencespeciesidentificationandgenotypingcryptosporidiumfromlivestockanddeerinacatchmentinthecairngormswithahistoryofacontaminatedpublicwatersupply AT elisabethinnes prevalencespeciesidentificationandgenotypingcryptosporidiumfromlivestockanddeerinacatchmentinthecairngormswithahistoryofacontaminatedpublicwatersupply |