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To find out whether and how the prevalence and genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium in neonatal calves vary with the season, 380 fecal samples from neonatal calves on two large‐scale farms in Xinjiang (Alar and Wensu) were studied using molecular biology techniques. Cryptosporidium was detected in 48.7% (185/380) of the samples and was most frequent in summer (56.8%), followed by spring (50.0%), winter (46.8%), and autumn (41.7%; p > 0.05). Calves with diarrhea seem to be more likely infected by Cryptosporidium than those without diarrhea (p < 0.01). We also found that C. parvum (n = 173), C. bovis (n = 7), and C. ryanae (n = 3) were the Cryptosporidium species detected in this study, and co‐infections of these three species (n = 2) were also identified. Two subtypes (IIdA14G1 and IIdA15G1) of C. parvum were identified, and both can infect human. These results also show that neonatal calves commonly suffer diarrhea caused by C. parvum throughout the year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Cryptosporidium species are ubiquitous enteric protozoan pathogens of vertebrates distributed worldwide. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the zoonotic potential and genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. in Bactrian camels in Xinjiang, northwestern China. A total of 476 fecal samples were collected from 16 collection sites in Xinjiang and screened for Cryptosporidium by PCR. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium was 7.6% (36/476). Six Cryptosporidium species, C. andersoni (n = 24), C. parvum (n = 6), C. occultus (n = 2), C. ubiquitum (n = 2), C. hominis (n = 1), and C. bovis (n = 1), were identified based on sequence analysis of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene. Sequence analysis of the gp60 gene identified six C. parvum isolates as subtypes, such as If-like-A15G2 (n = 5) and IIdA15G1 (n = 1), two C. ubiquitum isolates, such as subtype XIIa (n = 2), and one C. hominis isolate, such as Ixias IkA19G1 (n = 1). This is the first report of C. parvum, C. hominis, C. ubiquitum, and C. occultus in Bactrian camels in China. These results indicated that the Bactrian camel may be an important reservoir for zoonotic Cryptosporidium spp. and these infections may be a public health threat in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptosporidium parvum has been identified as a major cause of diarrhea and diarrhea-associated deaths in young children and neonatal calves. Infections can remain asymptomatic but may lead to malnutrition and persistent growth retardation. To assess the relationship between C. parvum genetic diversity and pathogenicity in neonatal dairy calves and determine the cause of diarrhea among these calves, 232 fecal samples from neonatal dairy calves on 12 farms in Xinjiang, China, were characterized for Cryptosporidium presence based on the small subunit rRNA gene. The Cryptosporidium prevalence was 38.4% (89/232), and three species were detected with restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, including C. parvum (the significantly dominant species), C. ryanae, and C. bovis. Cryptosporidium prevalence was significantly higher in neonatal dairy calves with diarrhea (52.6%, 51/97) than in calves without diarrhea (28.1%, 38/135). All C. parvum-positive samples were analyzed based on the 60 KDa glycoprotein gene, and IIdA15G1, IIdA20G1, IIdA14G1, and IIdA19G1 were successfully subtyped. These data indicate that C. parvum may be a major contributor to diarrheal disease in neonatal dairy calves, and C. parvum subtypes from neonatal dairy calves in Xinjiang exhibited high genetic diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most common microsporidia species in humans and has a variety of animal hosts. To assess the prevalence and molecular characteristics of E. bieneusi in dairy calves in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, 514 fecal samples were collected from 15 farms and examined by polymerase chain reaction based on the internal transcribed spacer of the ribosomal RNA gene of E. bieneusi. The overall prevalence of E. bieneusi in calves was 16.5% (85/514). No significant difference in prevalence was observed between pre- and post-weaned calves. Sequence analysis of ITS nucleotide sequences identified six known genotypes (BEB4, CC4, D, I, J, and EbpC), five of these previously detected in humans. Genotype J was the most prevalent genotype (57/85) and was identified on 11 farms. The high prevalence of zoonotic E. bieneusi genotypes in dairy calves suggests they are a potential source of zoonotic infection in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptosporidium is a common cause of diarrhea in children globally. However, there is limited information on the prevalence and genetic characteristics of Cryptosporidium in children in Xinjiang, China. This study aimed to assess the genetic characteristics and epidemiological status of Cryptosporidium in kindergarten children in Southern Xinjiang, China. A total of 609 fecal samples were collected from kindergartners aged 2–6 years from 11 counties in Southern Xinjiang, China. We used nested PCR amplification of the partial SSU rDNA gene to screen samples for Cryptosporidium spp. Isolates containing Cryptosporidium parvum and C. hominis were further subtyped for a gene encoding a 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60). We used MEGA7 to construct a phylogenetic tree to study the genetic relationship between the gp60 subtypes of these two species via the Maximum Likelihood method based on the Tamura-Nei model. Only 1.3% (8/609) of asymptomatic children were confirmed to be infected with Cryptosporidium , with a 2.0% (6/299) infection rate in boys and 0.6% (2/310) infection rate in girls. Three Cryptosporidium species were identified including C. felis (37.5%; 3/8), C. hominis (37.5%; 3/8), and C. parvum (25.0%; 2/8). Three C. hominis subtypes (IbA9G3, IdA14, and IfA12G1) and two C. parvum subtypes (IIdA14G1 and IIdA15G1) were also found. This study is the first to identify the presence of Cryptosporidium in kindergarten children in Southern Xinjiang, China. The presence of zoonotic C. parvum subtypes IIdA14G1 and IIdA15G1 indicates the possible cross-species transmission of Cryptosporidium between children and animals. • This study was the first to identify the presence of Cryptosporidium in asymptomatic children in Southern Xinjiang, China. • Total of 1.3% (8/609) children were confirmed as infected with Cryptosporidium. • Cryptosporidium. felis , C. hominis and C. parvum were identified. • Three C. hominis subtypes (IbA9G3, IdA14 and IfA12G1) and two C. parvum subtypes (IIdA14G1 and IIdA15G1) were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]