Authors

A Morris¹; S Noble²; J Lindo²; C Ong¹;  ¹ Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada;  ² University of the West Indies, Jamaica

Discussion

Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite associated with gastrointestinal illness in humans and a wide range of vertebrate animals. Cattle, particularly calves, are widely recognized as major reservoir hosts of zoonotic Cryptosporidium spp . Despite this, and cattle being one of the most significant economic mainstays in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, there is no published record to date on the presence of Cryptosporidium in Jamaican cattle nor their potential role as zoonotic reservoirs. In the present study, 119 fecal samples were collected from beef and dairy cattle (ages 1 month to 11 years) from 10 farms in St. Elizabeth parish. A modified acid-fast (MAF) staining microscopy technique was performed to detect Cryptosporidium oocysts from 29 (24%) of samples. Molecular screening by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), amplifying the 18S rRNA gene, confirmed Cryptosporidium presence in 10 (8%) of samples. PCR positive isolates were subjected to nested PCR and sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA gene, which identified a C. parvum genotype of bovine origin in fecal specimens from 2 calves. Further sequence analysis of the 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene, identified the C. hominis IbA9G2 subtype, previously reported in humans and a calf. This reports the first molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. from cattle in Jamaica, and their potential role as zoonotic reservoirs of the protozoan parasite. Further molecular investigation is warranted to better understand direct and indirect transmission dynamics of cryptosporidiosis between livestock and humans in the region.