Molecular detection and genetic variability of Cryptosporidium spp. in wild Asian house shrews (Suncus murinus) from southern Zhejiang province, China
Jiangfeng Li,
Zhongying Yuan,
Junchen Xu,
Xianming Xin,
Jiani Liu,
Xinrui Zhang,
Shanshan Zhou,
Zhen Li,
Shuai Chen,
Huicong Huang,
Wei Zhao,
Yanyan Jiang
Affiliations
Jiangfeng Li
Wenzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
Zhongying Yuan
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, 200025, Shanghai, China
Junchen Xu
School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
Xianming Xin
School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
Jiani Liu
School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
Xinrui Zhang
School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
Shanshan Zhou
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, 200025, Shanghai, China
Zhen Li
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, 200025, Shanghai, China
Shuai Chen
Wenzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
Huicong Huang
School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
Wei Zhao
School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China; Corresponding author.
Yanyan Jiang
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, 200025, Shanghai, China; Corresponding author.
Shrews play a crucial role as repositories for diverse pathogens linked to zoonotic infectious diseases. However, the genetic information regarding Cryptosporidium in Chinese shrews remains unexplored. The objectives of this study were twofold: to determine the occurrence rate of Cryptosporidium spp. in wild shrews residing in the southern part of Zhejiang Province, China, and to investigate their genetic characteristics. A total of 282 wild shrews were captured between April and October of 2023. The detection of Cryptosporidium in fecal samples, collected from each animal's rectum, was performed using PCR and sequencing of the partial small subunit of ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. The 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene was utilized to further subtype the positive samples of C. viatorum and C. parvum. All animals were identified as Suncus murinus, and a positive result for Cryptosporidium was obtained in 14.2 % (40/282) of the samples. The following species and genotypes were identified: C. ratti (n = 19), C. parvum (n = 2), C. viatorum (n = 1), Cryptosporidium rat genotype IV (n = 13), and Cryptosporidium skunk genotype (n = 5). Furthermore, the subtypes IIdA15G1 and XVdA3 were detected within C. parvum and C. viatorum, respectively. Molecular evidence indicates that S. murinus is concurrently infected with rodent-adapted and zoonotic species/genotypes, actively contributing to the dissemination of cryptosporidiosis.
