Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in eleven wild rodent species in China: Common distribution, extensive genetic diversity and high zoonotic potential
Kangli Feng,
Shenghua Yang,
Yanhua Xu,
Luxing Wen,
Jia Chen,
Wenbao Zhang,
Shouyi Chen,
Yongyi Shen,
Lihua Xiao,
Yaqiong Guo,
Yaoyu Feng,
Na Li
Affiliations
Kangli Feng
State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, China
Shenghua Yang
State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, China
Yanhua Xu
State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, China
Luxing Wen
State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, China
Jia Chen
State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, China
Wenbao Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China
Shouyi Chen
Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510440, Guangdong, China
Yongyi Shen
State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, China
Lihua Xiao
State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, China
Yaqiong Guo
State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, China
Yaoyu Feng
State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, China; Corresponding authors at: Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
Na Li
State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, China; Corresponding authors at: Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi are common zoonotic pathogens in humans and animals. Although rodents are important parts of the ecosystem and common hosts for these pathogens, little is known of the distribution, genetic diversity and zoonotic potential of these pathogens in wild rodents. A total of 442 fecal samples were collected from eleven wild rodent species in three provinces of China, and analyzed for these pathogens by PCR and DNA sequencing. The infection rates of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp. and E. bieneusi were 19.9% (88/442), 19.8% (75/378) and 12.2% (54/442), respectively. Altogether, 23 known Cryptosporidium species/genotypes were identified and their distribution varied among different sampling locations or rodent species. Subtyping of the zoonotic Cryptosporidium species identified two novel subtype families XVe and XVf in C. viatorum, the subtype family XIIh and a novel subtype family XIIj in C. ubiquitum, and the subtype family IId in C. parvum. Three Giardia species were identified, including G. microti (n = 57), G. muris (n = 15) and G. duodenalis (n = 3), with G. duodenalis assemblages A and G identified in brown rats in urban areas of Guangdong. In addition, 13 E. bieneusi genotypes including eight known and five novel ones were identified, belonging to Groups 1, 2, 10, 14 and 15. Within nine genotypes in the zoonotic Group 1, common human-pathogenic genotypes D, Type IV, PigEbITS7 and Peru8 were detected only in brown rats and Lesser rice-field rats in urban areas of Guangdong. Apparent host adaptation and geographical differences were observed among Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp. and E. bieneusi genotypes in wild rodents in the present study. Furthermore, the zoonotic Cryptosporidium species and E. bieneusi genotypes commonly found here suggest a high zoonotic potential of these pathogens in wild rodents, especially in brown rats in urban areas. Hygiene and One Health measures should be implemented in urban streets and food stores to reduce the possible direct and indirect transmission of these rodent-related pathogens.
