Cross-species transmission of Cryptosporidium in wild rodents from the southern region of Zhejiang Province of China and its possible impact on public health
Jiang Yanyan,
Jiang Aiying,
Ren Guangxu,
Wang Long,
Xin Xianming,
Yuan Zhongying,
Liu Jiani,
Li Zhen,
Sun Yanbin,
Zhou Shanshan,
Lu Gang,
Huang Huicong,
Zhao Wei
Affiliations
Jiang Yanyan
National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases
Jiang Aiying
Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University
Ren Guangxu
Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hainan Medical University
Wang Long
Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University
Xin Xianming
Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University
Yuan Zhongying
National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases
Liu Jiani
Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University
Li Zhen
National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases
Sun Yanbin
Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University
Zhou Shanshan
National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases
Lu Gang
Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hainan Medical University
Huang Huicong
Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University
Zhao Wei
Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University
Wild rodents serve as reservoirs for Cryptosporidium and are overpopulated globally. However, genetic data regarding Cryptosporidium in these animals from China are limited. Here, we have determined the prevalence and genetic characteristics of Cryptosporidium among 370 wild rodents captured from three distinct locations in the southern region of Zhejiang Province, China. Fresh feces were collected from the rectum of each rodent, and DNA was extracted from them. The rodent species was identified by PCR amplifying the vertebrate cytochrome b gene. Cryptosporidium was detected by PCR amplification and amplicon sequencing the small subunit of ribosomal RNA gene. Positive samples of C. viatorum and C. parvum were further subtyped by analyzing the 60-kDa glycoprotein gene. A positive Cryptosporidium result was found in 7% (26/370) of samples, involving five rodent species: Apodemus agrarius (36), Niviventer niviventer (75), Rattus losea (18), R. norvegicus (155), and R. tanezumi (86). Their respective Cryptosporidium positive rates were 8.3%, 5.3%, 11.1%, 7.1%, and 7.0%. Sequence analysis confirmed the presence of three Cryptosporidium species: C. parvum (4), C. viatorum (1), and C. muris (1), and two genotypes: Cryptosporidium rat genotype IV (16) and C. mortiferum-like (4). Additionally, two subtypes of C. parvum (IIdA15G1 and IIpA19) and one subtype of C. viatorum (XVdA3) were detected. These results demonstrate that various wild rodent species in Zhejiang were concurrently infected with rodent-adapted and zoonotic species/genotypes of Cryptosporidium, indicating that these rodents can play a role in maintaining and dispersing this parasite into the environment and other hosts, including humans.
