Northeast Forest University, Harbin, China.
Laboratory of Vector-Borne Diseases and Pathogens Ecology, Northeast Forest University, Harbin, China.
PeerJ. 2022 Jan 19;10:e12825. doi: 10.7717/peerj.12825. eCollection 2022.
Cryptosporidiosis is an important zoonotic protozoan disease worldwide, but few studies on this disease have been performed in wild birds; thus, our knowledge of this disease is insufficient, even in zoo birds. Animals in zoos are possible zoonotic disease reservoirs, potentially resulting in zoonotic agent spillover to humans; accordingly, our understanding of such phenomena should be improved.
A total of 263 fresh fecal samples from 43 avian species were randomly collected from the Beijing Zoo and Harbin North Forest Zoo and screened for the prevalence of by 18S rRNA gene sequencing. species were distinguished based on the combined results of phylogenetic tree and genetic distance analyses conducted with the inclusion of seven avian species and 13 avian genotypes. The genetic diversity of among different hosts, including humans, cattle, dogs, and birds, and the genetic diversity of avian among avian hosts in China, Iraq and Brazil were determined based on 18S rRNA haplotypes.
The results of PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene revealed that 1.9% (5/263) of the samples were -positive. Four of the five -positive samples originated from white cranes (), and one originated from a flamingo (). Avian isolates, including the isolates examined in the present study, showed gene flow with other isolates from different types of hosts, including humans, cattle and dogs, indicating that zoo birds potentially pose zoonotic and pathogenic risks to humans and animals. Additionally, gene flow between avian isolates from China and Brazil was detected.
To the best of our knowledge, our results demonstrate infection in a flamingo () and white cranes () for the first time. The results of our study provide an important reference for understanding the host range, biological characteristics, and molecular epidemiology of .
隐孢子虫病是一种重要的世界性动物源性原虫病，但对野生鸟类的此类疾病研究甚少；因此，我们对该疾病的认识不足，即使在动物园鸟类中也是如此。动物园中的动物可能是动物源性疾病的储存宿主，可能导致动物源性病原体溢出到人类；因此，我们应该提高对这种现象的认识。
本研究从北京动物园和哈尔滨北方森林动物园随机采集了 43 种鸟类的 263 份新鲜粪便样本，通过 18S rRNA 基因测序筛查 的流行情况。根据包括 7 种禽源 和 13 种禽源 基因型的系统发育树和遗传距离分析的综合结果，区分 种。根据 18S rRNA 单倍型，确定不同宿主（包括人类、牛、狗和鸟类）之间 的遗传多样性以及中国、伊拉克和巴西鸟类宿主之间的禽源 的遗传多样性。
针对 18S rRNA 基因的 PCR 结果显示，有 1.9%（5/263）的样本呈阳性。5 个 阳性样本中，有 4 个来自白鹤（），1 个来自火烈鸟（）。本研究中检测到的禽源 分离株与来自不同宿主（包括人类、牛和狗）的其他分离株显示出基因流，表明动物园鸟类可能对人类和动物构成动物源性和致病性风险。此外，还检测到来自中国和巴西的禽源 分离株之间的基因流。
据我们所知，本研究结果首次证明了火烈鸟（）和白鹤（）中存在 感染。本研究结果为了解 的宿主范围、生物学特性和分子流行病学提供了重要参考。
