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Occurrence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. genotypes in European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus L.) in Germany

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 September 2009

V. DYACHENKO ,
Y. KUHNERT ,
R. SCHMAESCHKE ,
M. ETZOLD ,
N. PANTCHEV  and
A. DAUGSCHIES
V. DYACHENKO*
Affiliation:
Institute of Parasitology, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 35, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Y. KUHNERT
Affiliation:
Institute of Parasitology, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 35, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
R. SCHMAESCHKE
Affiliation:
Institute of Parasitology, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 35, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
M. ETZOLD
Affiliation:
Institute of Parasitology, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 35, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
N. PANTCHEV
Affiliation:
Vet Med Laboratory GmbH, Division of IDEXX Laboratories, Mörikestrasse 28/3, 71636 Ludwigsburg, Germany
A. DAUGSCHIES
Affiliation:
Institute of Parasitology, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 35, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
*
*Corresponding author: Institute of Parasitology, An den Tierkliniken 35, 04103 Leipzig, Germany. Tel: +49 341 9738085. Fax: +49 341 9738095. E-mail: dyachenko@vetmed.uni-leipzig.de
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Summary

Juvenile hedgehogs having insufficient body weight are often brought for overwintering to hedgehog rehabilitation centres. Faecal samples of juvenile hedgehogs and overwintering hedgehogs (n=188) collected prior to releasing them back into the wilderness were examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium coproantigen and oocysts. Altogether 56 (29·8%) submitted samples were positive for coproantigen. Forty-five (39·5%, n=114) of the positive samples originated from newly rescued hedgehogs, while 11 (14·8%, n=74) positive samples were from animals that spent several months at the station. Fifteen samples subjected to PCR-RFLP analysis on the partial 18S rRNA locus suggested the presence of C. parvum. Multilocus sequence typing on partial 60 kDa glycoprotein gene, 18S rRNA, actin gene, 70 kDa heat shock protein gene sequences revealed 3 different subtype families: IIa, IIc and a new, proposed as VIIa subtype family. Cryptosporidium sp. genotype belonging to VIIa subtype family is closely related to C. parvum but is genetically distinct being probably a hedgehog-specific Cryptosporidium sp. genotype with unknown zoonotical potential. Hedgehogs excreting Cryptosporidium oocysts represent a potential source for human infections, but also an anthroponotic nature of the IIc subtype family should be reviewed.

Keywords

Cryptosporidium spp.European hedgehogcoproantigenoocystsGP60-subtypes
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 137 , Issue 2 , February 2010 , pp. 205 - 216
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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