Intestinal parasites of buffalo calves from Romania: molecular characterization of Cryptoporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis, and the first report of Eimeria bareillyi

Authors: BARBURAS, DIANE ANCUTA - University Of Agricultural Sciences And Veterinary Medicine - Romania; COZMA, VASILE - University Of Agricultural Sciences And Veterinary Medicine - Romania; IONICA, ANGELA MONICA - University Of Agricultural Sciences And Veterinary Medicine - Romania; ABBAS, IBRAHIM - Mansoura University; MIRCEAN, VIORICA - University Of Agricultural Sciences And Veterinary Medicine - Romania; D'AMICO, GIANLUCA - University Of Agricultural Sciences And Veterinary Medicine - Romania; Dubey, Jitender; GYORKE, ADRIANA - University Of Agricultural Sciences And Veterinary Medicine - Romania

Submitted to: Folia Parasitologica
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/12/2022
Publication Date: 8/8/2022
Citation: Barburas, D., Cozma, V., Ionica, A., Abbas, I., Mircean, V., D'Amico, G., Dubey, J.P., Gyorke, A. 2022. Intestinal parasites of buffalo calves from Romania: molecular characterization of Cryptoporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis, and the first report of Eimeria bareillyi. Folia Parasitologica. 69(15):Article e2022. https://doi.org/10.14411/fp.2022.015.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14411/fp.2022.015

Interpretive Summary: Parasitic infections are an important cause of diarrhea in livestock. Among the protozoans, coccidia of the genus Eimeria are the most important pathogens. Water buffaloes are important for the economy of many countries. Water buffaloes share several pathogens, including common species of Eimeria. In the present study, authors report for the first- time protozoans and helminthic infections in dairy buffalo calves in Romania. Overall, 33 out of 38 buffalo calves were infected with different gastrointestinal parasites; 16 had single infections and 17 had mixed infections with 2 or 3 parasites. Eimeria species (32/38; 84.2%) was the most prevalent parasite. Two zoonotic parasites, Giardia duodenalis assemblages and Cryptosporidium species were documented. These results will be interest to parasitologists, epidemiologists, and veterinarians.

Technical Abstract: Buffaloes represent an important economic resource for several regions of the world including Romania; however, no reports on parasitic infections in buffaloes from Romania are available. In the present study, we examined for the gastrointestinal parasites 104 fecal samples bimonthly collected from 38 buffalo calves (2 - 11 months old) from household rearing systems in Romania. All samples were tested using the saturated salt flotation, McMaster and modified Ziehl-Nielsen staining methods. PCR coupled with isolates sequencing methods were used to identify the Giardia duodenalis assemblages and Cryptosporidium species. Overall, 33 out of 38 examined buffalo calves were infected with different gastrointestinal parasites; 16 had single infections and 17 had mixed infections with 2 or 3 parasites. Eimeria species (32/38; 84.2%) was the most prevalent parasite; 8 species were identified according to the oocyst morphology including the pathogenic E. bareillyi which detected for the first time in buffaloes from Romania. Toxocara vitulorum (11/38; 36.8%) and Strongyloides papillosus (6/38; 15.8%) were also detected. Cryptosporidium spp. were found in 4 (10.5%) buffalo calves; 2 of them were molecularly identified as C. ryanae and another one was clustered in the same clade with C. ryanae, C. bovis, and C. xiaoi. Giardia duodenalis assemblage E was also molecularly detected in a single (2.6%) buffalo calf. The presence of other buffaloes in the same barn was identified as a risk factor for infection with T. vitulorum. Our results indicate extensive parasitic infections in buffalo calves from Northwestern Romania and underline the necessity of prophylactic treatments for T. vitulorum and E. bareillyi.