Abstract

Purpose The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. in six
different fish species both from marine and freshwater environments.
Methods During a period of 2 years (2018–2020), a total of 415 fecal samples and 565 intestinal scrapings were collected
in seven provinces from the central and eastern Algeria. From those, 860 fish belonged to six different species, two of which
are cultured marine and four are wild freshwater fish. All samples were screened for Cryptosporidium spp. presence using
molecular techniques. Nested PCR approach was performed to amplify partial sequences of the small subunit ribosomal RNA
(SSU rRNA) and 60-kDa glycoprotein (GP60) genes for Cryptosporidium genotyping and subtyping. Detailed statistical
analysis was performed to assess the prevalence variation of Cryptosporidium infection according to different risk factors.
Results Nested PCR analysis of SSU gene revealed 173 Cryptosporidium positive fish, giving an overall prevalence of
20.11% (17.5–23.0). Cryptosporidium spp. was detected in 8.93% (42/470) of cultured marine fish and 33.58% (131/390)
of wild freshwater fish. Overall, the prevalence was affected by all studied risk factors, except the gender. Molecular characterization
and subtyping of Cryptosporidium isolates showed occurrence of IIaA16G2R1 and IIaA17G2R1 subtypes of
C. parvum in the fish species Sparus aurata.
Conclusion The present study provides the first epidemiological data on the prevalence and associated risk factors of
Cryptosporidium spp. in farmed marine and wild freshwater fish and the first molecular data on the occurrence of zoonotic
C. parvum in fish from North Africa (Algeria).
Keywords Fish · Cryptosporidium spp. · Prevalence · Molecular characterization · Algeria

Information

Item Type:	Journal
Divisions:
ePrint ID:	3825
Date Deposited:	2023-04-29
Further Information:	Google Scholar
URI:	https://www.univ-soukahras.dz/en/publication/article/3825

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