Molecular Detection and Characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in Domestic Animals and Wildlife in Thailand With a Focus on Zoonotic Potential.
7 affiliations
- 1Department of Protozoology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
- 2National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan.
- 3Department of General Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan.
- 4Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
- 5Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.
- 6Department of Pre-Clinic and Applied Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
- 7Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen S, Denmark.
Abstract
Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis are important parasitic protozoa infecting humans and a wide range of animal species. Some species and assemblages have zoonotic potential and pose health risks to both humans and animals. This study aimed to molecularly detect and characterize Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis and assess their zoonotic potential in pigs, cattle, cats and wildlife. Nested PCR and sequence analyses of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (ssu rRNA) gene for Cryptosporidium spp. and ssu rRNA, β-giardin (bg), glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) and triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) genes for G. duodenalis were used for molecular detection and characterization. The PCR positivity rate for Cryptosporidium was 17.9% (12/67) in pigs, whereas the corresponding rates for G. duodenalis were 6.0% (4/67) in pigs and 2.5% (2/80) in cats. Neither parasite was detected in cattle (0/61) or wildlife (0/144). Cryptosporidium scrofarum, a potentially zoonotic species, was the only Cryptosporidium species identified. Among the four Giardia-positive pig samples, assemblages B and E were each identified in two samples. Co-infection with C. scrofarum and assemblage E was detected in one pig. Feline-associated assemblage F was identified in two cat samples. Potentially zoonotic C. scrofarum and zoonotic G. duodenalis assemblage B were detected in pigs, together with livestock-associated assemblage E. Feline-associated assemblage F was identified in cats. These findings provide historical, sample-specific molecular data on the animals examined.
Related
- Development of a centrifugation-based method for the qualitative molecular detection of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in surface water samples.
- Molecular identification and biological characterization of Cryptosporidium muris from a naturally infected cat (Felis catus)
- Giardia duodenalis in domestic cats from the US and Canada: Prevalence and zoonotic potential
- Environmental contamination and molecular epidemiology of Giardia duodenalis around Korean cattle farms: Implications for One Health surveillance
- Microscopic and molecular Cryptosporidium parvum infection in individuals with gastrointestinal symptoms in South Khorasan, Iran
BibTeX
@article{udonsom2026molecular,
title = {{Molecular Detection and Characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in Domestic Animals and Wildlife in Thailand With a Focus on Zoonotic Potential.}},
author = {Ruenruetai Udonsom and Yoshifumi Nishikawa and Aongart Mahittikorn and Repeepun Prasertbun and Hirotake Mori and Nathamon Ngaosuwankul and Ai-Rada Pintong and Charoonluk Jirapattharasate and Christen Rune Stensvold and Supaluk Popruk},
journal = {Veterinary medicine and science},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1002/vms3.71327},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42998259},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Molecular Detection and Characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in Domestic Animals and Wildlife in Thailand With a Focus on Zoonotic Potential.
AU - Ruenruetai Udonsom
AU - Yoshifumi Nishikawa
AU - Aongart Mahittikorn
AU - Repeepun Prasertbun
AU - Hirotake Mori
AU - Nathamon Ngaosuwankul
AU - Ai-Rada Pintong
AU - Charoonluk Jirapattharasate
AU - Christen Rune Stensvold
AU - Supaluk Popruk
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/01
JO - Veterinary medicine and science
DO - 10.1002/vms3.71327
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42998259
AB - Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis are important parasitic protozoa infecting humans and a wide range of animal species. Some species and assemblages have zoonotic potential and pose health risks to both humans and animals. This study aimed to molecularly detect and characterize Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis and assess their zoonotic potential in pigs, cattle, cats and wildlife. Nested PCR and sequence analyses of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (ssu rRNA) gene for Cryptosporidium spp. and ssu rRNA, β-giardin (bg), glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) and triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) genes for G. duodenalis were used for molecular detection and characterization. The PCR positivity rate for Cryptosporidium was 17.9% (12/67) in pigs, whereas the corresponding rates for G. duodenalis were 6.0% (4/67) in pigs and 2.5% (2/80) in cats. Neither parasite was detected in cattle (0/61) or wildlife (0/144). Cryptosporidium scrofarum, a potentially zoonotic species, was the only Cryptosporidium species identified. Among the four Giardia-positive pig samples, assemblages B and E were each identified in two samples. Co-infection with C. scrofarum and assemblage E was detected in one pig. Feline-associated assemblage F was identified in two cat samples. Potentially zoonotic C. scrofarum and zoonotic G. duodenalis assemblage B were detected in pigs, together with livestock-associated assemblage E. Feline-associated assemblage F was identified in cats. These findings provide historical, sample-specific molecular data on the animals examined.
SN - 2053-1095
ER -