First report of Cryptosporidium spp. infection and risk factors in black-boned goats and black-boned sheep in China

Cryptosporidiumis an opportunistic protozoan parasite that can inhabit in the gastrointestinal tract of various hosts.Cryptosporidiuminfection in black-boned goats and black-boned sheep may pose a threat to the survival and productivity, causing considerable economic losses to the livestock industry. However, it is yet to know whether black-boned goats and black-boned sheep in China are infected withCryptosporidium. Thus, the objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors ofCryptosporidiuminfection in black-boned goats and black-boned sheep in Yunnan province, China. A total of 590 fecal samples were obtained from black-boned goats and black-boned sheep from five counties in Yunnan province, and the prevalence and species distribution ofCryptosporidiumwere determined by amplification of the 18S rDNA fragment using the nested PCR. The overallCryptosporidiumprevalence was 13.2% (78/590), with 18.0% (55/305) in black-boned goats and 8.1% (23/285) in black-boned sheep. The age and sampling site were identified as main factors that result in significant differences inCryptosporidiumprevalence.Three species, namelyC. muris,C. xiaoi, andC. ubiquitum, were identified in black-boned goats and black-boned sheep in the present study, withC. muris(46/78) as the predominant species. This is the first report ofCryptosporidiuminfection in black-boned goats and black-boned sheep in China, and the findings will facilitate better understanding, prevention, and control ofCryptosporidiuminfection in black-boned goats and black-boned sheep in China.