Molecular and Epidemiological Investigation of Cryptosporidium Infection in Goat Population from Bouira Province, Algeria
2025
Bedjaoui, Samia | Baroudi, Djamel | Adjou, Karim, Tarik | Davoust, Bernard | Laidoudi, Younes | Risques Infectieux Tropicaux et Microorganismes Emergents (RITMES) ; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Aix Marseille Université (AMU)-Service de Santé des Armées | Institut Hospitalier Universitaire Méditerranée Infection (IHU Marseille) | Ecole Nationale Supérieure Vétérinaire d'Alger (ENSV) | Biologie moléculaire et immunologie parasitaires et fongiques (BIPAR) ; École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort (ENVA)-Laboratoire de santé animale, sites de Maisons-Alfort et de Normandie ; Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail (ANSES)-Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail (ANSES)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE) | Université de Constantine [Algérie] = University of Constantine [Algeria]
International audience
显示更多 [+] 显示较少 [-]英语. Cryptosporidiosis is a gastrointestinal disease affecting terrestrial and aquatic vertebrates worldwide. This study investigated molecularly and microscopically the prevalence and the diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. in goats across the Bouira communes, Algeria. A total of 559 fecal samples were collected from 70 farms, representing 16.6% of the regional goat population. Samples were analyzed using microscopy (modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining) and molecular methods (i.e., qPCR and nested PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene, followed by sequencing). Microscopy detected Cryptosporidium in 6.1% of samples, while qPCR revealed a significantly higher prevalence of 13.6% (p < 0.00001), confirming the superior sensitivity of molecular diagnostics. Spatial analysis identified significant clustering (Moran's I = 0.330, p = 0.0003), with communes-level prevalence ranging from 6.7% to 45.7%. Infection rates correlated positively with humidity and rainfall but negatively with temperature. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed Cryptosporidium xiaoi as the sole species circulating, showing 100% genetic similarity to global caprine isolates. Despite C. xiaoi's host adaptation, a GenBank review highlighted six other zoonotic species infecting goats worldwide, underscoring potential cross-species transmission risks. The study emphasizes the need for PCR-based surveillance to assess true prevalence and zoonotic threats, while climatic findings support targeted interventions in high-risk areas.
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