Prevalence and molecular identification of Cryptosporidium infections in goats with different farm management systems in Terengganu

Abstract

Cryptosporidium are coccidian, obligate intracellular parasites that infect human, livestock animal, domestic pet and wildlife worldwide. Protozoal infections particularly by Cryptosporidium are rampant in human and animal leading to health problem and significant economic losses worldwide. Since there were limited data on the prevalence and no molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium especially in goats in Malaysia, this study were aimed to identify the prevalence of Cryptosporidium in goats from three different farm management systems in Terengganu, Malaysia and to determine the species of Cryptosporidium in goats by using 18S rRNA gene. A total of 478 goat faecal samples were collected from three different farm management systems which comprised a total of six farms in Terengganu from February to November 2015. Cryptosporidium oocysts were identified in preserved faecal sample by using formalin- ether concentration technique and observed under the microscope upon staining with modified Ziehl-Neelsen. Cryptosporidium-positive faecal samples confirmed by modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining were kept in 2.5% potassium dichromate prior to DNA extraction. The samples were screened by nested PCR and genotyped by using 18S rRNA gene. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium in this study was 43.3% (207/478) and the highest prevalence of Cryptosporidium was recorded in goats from Farm E with the percentage of 56.7% (34/60). There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the prevalence rate of Cryptosporidium infections in goats among the six farms in Terengganu. Besides, goats reared under the intensive farm management system gave the highest prevalence of infection (49.6%), followed by extensive farm management system (37.1%) and the lowest was semi-intensive farm management system (32.6%). There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the prevalence of Cryptosporidium and farm management systems in Terengganu. Besides, the Cryptosporidium species identified in goats was Cryptosporidium parvum. Therefore, it is hoped that this study will provide information on the occurrence of Cryptosporidium infection in goats in Malaysia as well as providing better understanding on the public health significance of cryptosporidiosis in order to plan effective control measures.