Molecular Epidemiological Investigation of Cryptosporidium sp., Giardia duodenalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Blastocystis sp. Infection in Free-ranged Yaks and Tibetan Pigs on the Plateau

Abstract

Intestinal parasites are of great economic importance in livestock. However, scarcity of data has been found about the prevalence of four important intestinal parasites including Cryptosporidium sp., Giardia duodenalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Blastocystis sp. infection in free-ranged yaks and Tibetan pigs during the winter season on the plateau. Fecal samples of yaks (n=40) and Tibetan pigs (n=60) were collected and molecular identification of these parasites was performed through nested PCR amplification. Positive PCR samples were sequenced and further phylogenetic analysis was performed. Results found that the prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp., G. duodenalis, E. bieneusi and Blastocystis sp. was 10.0, 7.5, 12.5, 7.5% in yaks, and 18.3, 0, 56.7, 50.0% in Tibetan pigs, respectively. Co-infections was found between 2.5-7.5% in yaks and 0-26.7% in Tibetan pigs, respectively. The sequenced samples were identified to be Cryptosporidium sp. and was identified as pig genotype II. Findings of this study will provide an insight to the prevention and control for these important parasites on the high plateau