Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium Infection and
Analysis of Hematological and Biochemical Changes in Diarrheic
Pre-Weaned Calves in Egypt
Ayman Ahmed Shehata1,
Mahran Mohamed Abd El-Emam2*, Heba Gouda3,
Basma Mustafa El-Said3, Marwa B.Salman4 and Eman Beshry Abd-Elfatah1
1Department
of Animal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine, Zagazig University, El-Shohada, Moawwad, Qesm Awel AZ,
Zagazig, 44511,
Egypt; 2Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, El-Shohada,
Moawwad, Qesm Awel AZ, Zagazig, 44511,
Egypt; 3Department of Animal Medicine, Internal Medicine,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, El-Shohada,
Moawwad, Qesm Awel AZ, Zagazig, 44511,
Egypt;
4Department
of zoonotic diseases. National Research Centre. Post Box 12622,
El Bohouth
str.Dokki.Cairo, Egypt
*Corresponding author:
mahranmohamed1234@gmail.com
Abstract
Cryptosporidiosis is a major diarrheal disease
with high mortality, primarily in young animals, and a zoonotic risk of
infection. The molecular epidemiology patterns of Cryptosporidium isolates
are still poorly understood in Egypt and other developing countries. The goal of
this research was to better understand the genetic diversity of
Cryptosporidium isolates in pre-weaned cattle calves in Egypt's Al-Sharkia
governorate by examining the hemo-biochemical changes in infected calves. We
used 100 diarrheal faecal samples to detect the presence of Cryptosporidium
oocysts by Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining. Twenty-two of the positive samples after
staining were further verified using PCR targeting the Cryptosporidium
oocyst wall protein (COWP) gene. We found that Cryptosporidium. Parvum (C.
parvum) was the sole species identified using the polymorphic 60 kDa
glycoprotein gene (GP60) locus. Sequencing GP60 locus samples revealed dominant
circulation for subtype IIa of C. parvum in calves, unlike most previously
reported sequences in Egypt. These sequences were 100% like those in Latin
America (Brazil, KT948746 EPC30). Egypt imports cattle calves from Latin
America, mainly Brazil, to overcome the deficiency in meat production, so it is
more likely that the C. parvum sequences circulating in Egypt appear to
be from different origins. Red Blood Cells (RBCs), Hemoglobin (Hb), Mean
Corpuscular Hb (MCH), lymphocytes, and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) values
were all significantly diminished in the infected calves than in the healthy
ones, while Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV),
neutrophil, eosinophil and monocytic percentages, Aspartate (Asp), and Glutamate
Decarboxylase (GAD) values increased. Our study for the first time identified
the presence of C. parvum isolates and changes in hemato-biochemical
conditions in pre-weaned cattle calves in Al-Sharkia governorate, which may
address the potential role of imported livestock in disease transmission.
To Cite This Article:
Shehata AA, El-Emam
MMA, Gouda H, El-Said BM, Salman MB, Abd-Elfatah EB, 2024.
Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium parvum infections and
analysis of hemological and biochemical changes in diarrheic pre-weaned calves
in Egypt. Pak Vet J, 44(1): 135-140. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2023.071