Iijima Yuko, Itoh Naoyuki, Phrompraphai Totsapon, Ito Yoichi, Kimura Yuya, Kameshima Satoshi
Laboratory of Small Animal Internal Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Higashi 23-35-1, Towada, Aomori 034-8628, Japan.
Ito Animal Hospital, Gakuendai 2-2-1, Miyashiro, Minami Saitama, Saitama 345-0826, Japan.
Korean J Parasitol. 2018 Jun;56(3):281-285. doi: 10.3347/kjp.2018.56.3.281. Epub 2018 Jun 30.
Cryptosporidium is the most common protozoan that can infect a wide range of animals, including mammals and birds. Avian Cryptosporidium spp. can cause enteric and respiratory diseases which can be fatal in birds and some species are zoonotic. Companion birds have the potential as reservoir due to their close contact with humans. Pet shops are the major source of companion birds. However, few reports are available regarding Cryptosporidium spp. infection among companion birds kept in pet shops. The present study reports the prevalence and molecular characteristics of Cryptosporidium spp. among companion birds kept in pet shops in Japan. A total of 265 fresh fecal samples were obtained from birds kept in 4 pet shops; these birds belonged to 41 species in 3 bird orders. A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting the small subunit rRNA gene was employed for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp. A total of 24 samples (9.1%) were positive, and Cryptosporidium spp. were detected from all pet shops. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in each of the bird orders was 6.5% (10/153) in Psittaciformes, 14.4% (13/90) in Passeriformes, and 4.5% (1/22) in Galliformes. Based on sequence analysis, 13 (54.2%) isolates were classified to C. galli, 8 (33.3%) were avian genotype III, and the remaining 3 (12.5%) were C. baileyi. No infection with zoonotic C. meleagridis and no coinfection with multiple Cryptosporidium spp. and/or genotypes were observed. The zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium spp. infecting companion birds kept in pet shops in Japan is likely to be low.
隐孢子虫是最常见的原生动物，可感染包括哺乳动物和鸟类在内的多种动物。禽隐孢子虫可引起肠道和呼吸道疾病，这些疾病在鸟类中可能是致命的，并且某些种类具有人畜共患性。伴侣鸟由于与人类密切接触而有成为储存宿主的可能性。宠物店是伴侣鸟的主要来源。然而，关于宠物店中饲养的伴侣鸟感染隐孢子虫的报道很少。本研究报告了日本宠物店中饲养的伴侣鸟隐孢子虫的感染率和分子特征。从4家宠物店饲养的鸟类中总共采集了265份新鲜粪便样本；这些鸟属于3个目41个物种。采用针对小亚基rRNA基因的巢式聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测法来检测隐孢子虫。总共24份样本（9.1%）呈阳性，且在所有宠物店中均检测到了隐孢子虫。隐孢子虫在每个目鸟类中的感染率分别为：鹦形目6.5%（10/153）、雀形目14.4%（13/90）、鸡形目4.5%（1/22）。基于序列分析，13株（54.2%）分离株被归类为鸡隐孢子虫，8株（33.3%）为禽基因型III，其余3株（12.5%）为贝氏隐孢子虫。未观察到感染人畜共患的火鸡隐孢子虫，也未观察到多种隐孢子虫和/或基因型的混合感染。在日本，感染宠物店中饲养的伴侣鸟的隐孢子虫的人畜共患潜力可能较低。
