Studies On Population Structure Of Giardia Lamblia, Cryptosporidium SPP. And Enterocytozoon Bieneusi In Some Rare Animals In Qinling Mountains

Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi, three important opportunistic pathogens, are prevalent both in developed and undeveloped countries, posing a significant threat to human health and animal growth. G. lamblia, Cryptosporidium spp. and E. bieneusi have wide host ranges, including humans, poultries and livestocks, and various wild or captive rare animals. Previous studies indicated that rare amials would play a major role in their transmissions, especially in human infections, threatening public health. Therefore, the infection status and genetic information of these pathogens would assist to uncover their transmission patterns and to control their occurrence. With superior geographic and climatic conditions, there are abundant animal and plant resources in Qinling Mountains. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the infection status with molecular biological methods, and to identify the genotypes of G. lamblia, Cryptosporidium spp. and E. bieneusi in some captive rare animals in Qinling Mountains.1. From Sptember 2013 to December 2014, 590 faecal samples of some captive rare animals in Qinling Mountains were collected to detect infection of G. lamblia based on PCR and sequencing. The overall infection rate was 3.6%(21/590), with 8.9%(12/191) in golden takins, 3.5%(3/86) in macaques, 5.0%(1/20) in squirrel monkeys. Analysis of DNA sequences and phylogenetic trees indicated that there were two assemblages: B(3/21) and E(18/21). At SSU rRNA, TPI, BG and GDH loci, the assemblage E contained 2, 11, 10, 7 SNPs, forming 15 distinct MLSs. While, the assemblage B represented only one MLG.2. Cryptosporidium spp. were detected based on 18 S rRNA and COWP gene, and the infection rate was 3.9%(25/590), found in golden takins(7.9%, 15/191) and macaques(9.3%, 8/86). C. parvum(3/23) GP60 subtypes were IId A15G2R1(golden takins) and IId A19G1(macaques). Two MLST types were found among C. andersoni(20/23) isolates, includcing A4, A4, A4, A1(16/20) and A1, A4, A4, A1(4/20).3. E. bieneusi were positive in 11 species and the overall prevalence was 10.5%(62/590). Based on ITS, 13 distinct genotypes were identified, including the human-pathogenic genotype D, EbpC, MH and D-new. At MS1, MS3, MS4 and MS7 loci, 18, 11, 14 and 19 genotypes were identified, forming 16 MLGs. Among them, MLG2 was found in golden takins and macaques, MLG4 in golden taklins and giant panda, while other MLGs were present in only one species of rare animals.