Abstract

VITELA-MENDOZA, Irene et al. Cases frequency and molecular identification of Cryptosporidium spp. in lactating lambs kept grazing in the State of Veracruz, Mexico. Rev. mex. de cienc. pecuarias [online]. 2018, vol.9, n.3, pp.420-434. ISSN 2448-6698.  https://doi.org/10.22319/rmcp.v9i3.4364.

The objective was to determine the frequency of Cryptosporidium spp., and to identify the species or genotype of the oocysts found, in suckling lambs kept grazing in the Huasteca Alta region, State of Veracruz, Mexico. Fecal samples were collected from 210 lambs Pelibuey, Black Belly, and Katahdin, 7 to 21 d old from 21 sheep farms. Samples were stained with Kinyoun, nested PCR was used to amplify the 18S rRNA gene region of the parasite (830 bp), and positive samples were sequenced. The frequency of animals positive to Cryptosporidium spp by microscopy was 19.5 % (41/210), with a 10 to 50 % range among herds; with molecular techniques, the frequency of positive lambs was 26.8 % (11/41) with a 14 to 50 % range; all other samples were negative to both tests. All 11 samples sequenced showed 100 % homology with the 18S rRNA region of C. parvum. Results confirm the relevance of C. parvum as a major etiology of cryptosporidiosis in lactating lambs and show its broad distribution in this region of Mexico. This identification highlights that sheep can be considered as a significant potential source of human cryptosporidiosis, since it is considered a zoonotic disease, mainly for the people handling the flocks.

Keywords : Cryptosporidium parvum; Lambs; Frequency; Genotyping.

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