Molecular identification of Cryptosporidium baileyi in Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata domesticus) in free-range production systems

ABSTRACT: Cryptosporidiosis is considered an infection with impact on animal health. It has been associated with high morbidity and mortality rates, leading to significant economic losses to the poultry industry. This study investigated the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. in domestic ducks of family Anatidae (Cairina moschata) from two rustic commercial aviaries located in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A total of 315 fecal samples were collected from domestic ducks in two different areas (N=186 in area A and N=129 in area B). The microscopic analysis was conducted using a sugar centrifugal flotation technique for the identification of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts, followed by PCR/sequencing analyses of the partial sequence of the 18S rDNA gene to determine the Cryptosporidium species. Of the 315 samples collected, only 10 (186/5.38%) from area A were positive for Cryptosporidium. The nucleotide sequence and phylogenetic analyses identified that all samples were identical (100%) and belonged to Cryptosporidium baileyi species, which is closely related to gastric species and of importance in animal health.

Principais desafios que afetam a saúde intestinal das aves

O trato gastrointestinal das aves é colonizado por microrganismos benéficos e maléficos, vivendo de maneira comensal. As bactérias benéficas influenciam positivamente a integridade intestinal, funcionalidade da barreira de proteção, resposta imunológica, digestão e absorção dos nutrientes. As bactérias maléficas causadoras de enterites nas aves são: Clostridium colinum (enterite ulcerativa), Clostridium perfringens (enterite necrótica), Campylobacter jejuni e Campylobacter coli (enterite hemorrágica), Escherichia coli, Salmonella entérica (Salmonella pullorum - pulorose e Salmonella gallinarum - tifo aviário). Os protozoários causadores de enterites são: Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria maxima, Eimeria tenella (causam a coccidiose), Cryptosporidium meleagridis, Cryptosporidium baileyi e Cryptosporidium galli. Os vírus que acometem aves são: Paramoxivírus aviário tipo I (doença de Newcastle), rotavírus, astrovírus e reovírus. Porém, as lesões intestinais provocadas pelo microbioma maléfico podem ser amenizadas com o uso de prebióticos e probióticos na dieta das aves. Os prebióticos e probióticos fortalecem o sistema imunológico da ave, previne contra doenças entéricas infecciosas e melhora a digestão e absorção intestinal. Algumas bactérias que pertencem a microbiota intestinal das aves são utilizadas como probióticos, as espécies mais utilizadas pertencem ao gênero Lactobacillus e Bifidobacterium. Esta revisão analisa as informações científicas disponíveis sobre os principais microrganismos que afetam a saúde intestinal das aves e o uso de prebióticos e probióticos como aditivos preventivos na literatura vigente.

Serum metabolomics in chickens infected with Cryptosporidium baileyi

Background Cryptosporidium baileyi is an economically important zoonotic pathogen that causes serious respiratory symptoms in chickens for which no effective control measures are currently available. An accumulating body of evidence indicates the potential and usefulness of metabolomics to further our understanding of the interaction between pathogens and hosts, and to search for new diagnostic or pharmacological biomarkers of complex microorganisms. The aim of this study was to identify the impact of C. baileyi infection on the serum metabolism of chickens and to assess several metabolites as potential diagnostic biomarkers for C. baileyi infection. Methods Ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) and subsequent multivariate statistical analysis were applied to investigate metabolomics profiles in the serum samples of chickens infected with C. baileyi, and to identify potential metabolites that can be used to distinguish chickens infected with C. baileyi from non-infected birds. Results Multivariate statistical analysis identified 138 differential serum metabolites between mock- and C. baileyi-infected chickens at 5 days post-infection (dpi), including 115 upregulated and 23 downregulated compounds. These metabolites were significantly enriched into six pathways, of which two pathways associated with energy and lipid metabolism, namely glycerophospholipid metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism, respectively, were the most enriched. Interestingly, some important immune-related pathways were also significantly enriched, including the intestinal immune network for IgA production, autophagy and cellular senescence. Nine potential C. baileyi-responsive metabolites were identified, including choline, sirolimus, all-trans retinoic acid, PC(14:0/22:1(13Z)), PC(15:0/22:6(4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z,16Z,19Z)), PE(16:1(9Z)/24:1(15Z)), phosphocholine, SM(d18:0/16:1(9Z)(OH)) and sphinganine. Conclusions This is the first report on serum metabolic profiling of chickens with early-stage C. baileyi infection. The results provide novel insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of C. baileyi in chickens. Graphic abstract

EPIZOOTIC SITUATION ON INTESTINAL PARASITIC PROTOZOA YOUNG TURKEYS IN POULTRY FARMS IN CENTRAL RUSSIA

In addition to positive trends, a lot of problems remain in the modern turkey industry of the country. In the conditions of industrial poultry farming, when a large amount of poultry is contained in a limited area, there is a high risk of parasitic diseases, such as histomonosis, eimeriosis, and cryptosporidiosis. In order to establish an epizootic situation in intestinal parasitic protozoa of young turkeys in the form of diseases: histomonosis (Histomonas meleagridis), cryptosporidiosis (Cryptosporidium baileyi), eimeriosis (Eimeria spp.) Conducted in two specialized turkey farms in Central Russia, the age difference of the same age, the age of the same age. From the floor - for the presence of invasive elements. The results of our research have shown that in industrial poultry farms, young turkeys of different ages are infested with intestinal parasitic protozoa against the background of prescribing coccidiostatics: Eimeria spp. – EI – 5–20%, with a low intensity of invasion; Cryptosporidium baileyi – EI – 10%. In an economy without a clear scheme for prescribing coccidiostatics, infection with Eimeria was EI – 33.3–100%.