Occurrence and Molecular Identification of Zoonotic Cryptosporidium Species in Fish in Mosul City, Iraq

Altaie, Israa Abdulwahed; ALhayali, Nadia

doi:10.21608/ejvs.2024.296089.2156

Occurrence and Molecular Identification of Zoonotic Cryptosporidium Species in Fish in Mosul City, Iraq

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul, Mosul-Iraq

² Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul, Mosul-Iraq.

10.21608/ejvs.2024.296089.2156

Abstract

Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite infecting human and a wide range of animals causing severe diarrhea. A total of 200 fresh fish samples belonging to five species (Arabibarbus grypus, Cyprinus carpio, Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi, Chondrostoma regium and Luciobarbus xanthopterus) were collected from local markets for the period from August 2023 - February 2024. Total infection rate of Cryptosporidium spp. was (53/200) (26.5%). Highest infection rate recorded in October (34.28%), and the lowest was in February (14.28%). Scraping smears from stomach and intestines stained with Ziehl Neelsen (mZN), oocysts of Cryptosporidium appeared spheroidal or ovoidal with diameter ranged from 4.6 - 5.5 X 3.8 - 4.7µm. Nested PCR and sequence analysis of four samples using 18SrRNA gene showed positive for both species under accession numbers PP593584 for C. parvum and three isolates PP593585, PP593586 and PP593587 for C. hominis were 100% identical to the same species in other studies in Iraq and other countries according to blast in GenBank of NCBI. Nested PCR is considered a good tool for species identification and conformation of microscopical results. This is the first study in Iraq proved that fish became a new source for transmission of both species to human and livestock.

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