Molecular Epidemiological Investigation of Cyclospora spp. in Holstein Cattle in Partial Areas of the Yunnan Province, China

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Cyclospora spp. is an important zoonotic parasite that poses a threat to public health. At present, the research on Cyclospora spp. in cattle of the Yunnan Province remains limited. We firstly reported the prevalence of Cyclospora spp. in Holstein cattle in the Yunnan Province, China. In order to understand the prevalence and genotype of Cyclospora spp. in the Yunnan Province, 524 fecal samples from 4 regions were collected and tested. The results of the present study showed that 13 samples were positive for Cyclospora spp., and the total infection rate of Cyclospora spp. was 2.48%. We analyzed different risk factors, such as regions, sexes, and ages, but the difference was not statistically significant. Phylogenetic analysis showed that five Cyclospora spp. samples were classified into the zoonotic group of Cyclospora cayetanensis, which had zoonotic potential. The results of the present study indicated that Cyclospora spp. in the Holstein cattle of Yunnan Province posed a risk of zoonosis. ABSTRACT: Cyclospora spp. is a food-borne intestinal protozoan, which is widely distributed in the world and poses the risk of zoonosis. In order to reveal the prevalence of Cyclospora spp. in Holstein cattle in partial areas of the Yunnan Province, 524 fresh fecal samples of Holstein cattle were collected from Dali, Kunming, Chuxiong, and Qujing in Yunnan Province. A nested PCR amplification of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene of Cyclospora spp. was carried out, and the products of the nested PCR were further analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using Bsp E Ⅰ. The results of the present study showed that 13 samples were positive for Cyclospora spp., and the total infection rate of Cyclospora sp. was 2.48%. The infection of Cyclospora spp. was detected in Dali, Qujing, and Chuxiong. Chuxiong showed the highest infection rate (5.71%), and infection rate in Dali and Qujing was 2.19% and 3.16%, respectively. Interestingly, the infection of Cyclospora spp. was not detected in Kunming. The infection of Cyclospora spp. showed no significant differences among different regions (p > 0.05). Cyclospora sp. infection was detected in all ages and sexes, but the differences were not significant (p > 0.05). Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis showed that five Cyclospora spp. samples were closely related to the Cyclospora spp. of humans, and the others were closely related to the Cyclospora spp. of bovines. The results of the present study suggested that there was an infection of Cyclospora spp. in Holstein cattle in the Yunnan Province, and the Cyclospora spp. showed a risk of zoonosis. Thus, the prevention and control of Cyclospora spp. should be strengthened in the Yunnan Province, China. The results of this investigation provide data references for the further research of Cyclosporiasis in Holstein cattle in the Yunnan Province.