Dataset Information

Prevalence and genotypic identification of Cryptosporidium spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in captive Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) in Heilongjiang and Fujian provinces of China.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Cryptosporidium and Enterocytozoon bieneusi are two important pathogens with zoonotic potential that cause enteric infections in a wide range of hosts, including humans. Both are transmitted from animals to humans by direct contact or through contaminated equipment. Bears are frequently found in Chinese zoos as ornamental animals as well as farmed as commercial animals, and are therefore in close contact with zoo- or farm-keepers, but the prevalence and zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium and E. bieneusi in bears is poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to provide data on the occurrence and genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium and E. bieneusi in Asiatic black bears from Heilongjiang and Fujian, China. From May 2015 to December 2017, 218 fresh fecal specimens were collected from captive Asiatic black bears in Heilongjiang (n?=?36) and Fujian (n?=?182), China. Cryptosporidium and E. bieneusi were examined by PCR amplification of the partial small subunit of ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA, respectively. C. andersoni-positive isolates were subtyped through PCR analysis of the four minisatellite/microsatellite (MS1, MS2, MS3 and MS16) loci. RESULTS:The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium and E. bieneusi were 2.4% (4/218) and 6.4% (14/218), respectively, with 2.8% (1/36) and 22.2% (8/36) in the Heilongjiang Province, and 1.6% (3/182) and 3.3% (6/182) in the Fujian Province. Sequence analysis confirmed the presence of Cryptosporidium species: C. andersoni (n?=?3) and a genotype termed Cryptosporidium rat genotype IV (n?=?1). All three identified C. andersoni belonged to the MLST subtype A4, A4, A4, A1. Two known E. bieneusi genotypes D (n?=?4) and SC02 (n?=?10) were identified, both of which belong to zoonotic Group 1. CONCLUSIONS:This is the first report of C. andersoni and Cryptosporidium rat genotype IV in bears. The discovery of the zoonotic potential of E. bieneusi genotype D in bears highlights its significant zoonotic potential and potential threat to human health.

SUBMITTER: Wang SN

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7063761 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Prevalence and genotypic identification of Cryptosporidium spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in captive Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) in Heilongjiang and Fujian provinces of China.

Wang Sheng-Nan SN Sun Yun Y Zhou Huan-Huan HH Lu Gang G Qi Meng M Liu Wei-Shi WS Zhao Wei W

BMC veterinary research 20200310 1

<h4>Background</h4>Cryptosporidium and Enterocytozoon bieneusi are two important pathogens with zoonotic potential that cause enteric infections in a wide range of hosts, including humans. Both are transmitted from animals to humans by direct contact or through contaminated equipment. Bears are frequently found in Chinese zoos as ornamental animals as well as farmed as commercial animals, and are therefore in close contact with zoo- or farm-keepers, but the prevalence and zoonotic potential of C ...[more]

PMID: 32151253

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Project description:BackgroundAcross China and Southeast Asia, an estimated 17,000 bears are currently farmed for bile, primarily for traditional medicines. Depending on country, bile is extracted daily via transabdominal gallbladder fistulas, indwelling catheters, or needle aspiration. Despite claims that bears do not develop adverse effects from bile extraction, health issues identified in bears removed from bile farms include bile-extraction site infections, abdominal hernias, peritonitis, cholecystitis, hepatic neoplasia, cardiac disease, skeletal abnormalities, and abnormal behaviors. We present a comprehensive assessment of the effects of bile farming by comparing serum biochemical and hematological values of bears from farms that were bile-extracted (BE) and bears from farms not bile-extracted (FNE) with bears from non-farm captive (ZOO) and free-range (FR) environments. We hypothesized BE bears would have significant laboratory abnormalities compared to all non-extracted bear groups. We also hypothesized BE bears would have reduced long-term survival compared to FNE bears despite removal from farms.ResultsBE bears exhibited the highest values and greatest variation (on a population level) in laboratory parameters compared to all non-extracted bear groups particularly for alanine transaminase, gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), total bilirubin (TBIL), alkaline phosphatase (ALKP), blood urea nitrogen, creatinine (CREA), and total white blood cell count. Significant differences were detected between bear groups when accounting for season, sex, and/or age. BE bears exhibited greater mean serum GGT compared to all non-extracted bear groups, and the odds of having elevated TBIL were 7.3 times greater for BE bears, consistent with hepatobiliary disease. Biochemical parameter elevations in BE bears persisted up to 14 years post-rescue, consistent with long-term effects of bile-extraction. BE bears that arrived with elevated CREA and ALKP had median survival times of 1 and 4 years respectively, and regardless of laboratory abnormalities, BE bears had significantly shorter survival times compared to FNE bears.ConclusionsOur results provide strong evidence that bile extraction practices not only represent a temporary constraint for bears' welfare, but confer distinct long-term adverse health consequences. Routine laboratory panels may be insensitive to detect the extent of underlying illness in BE bears as these bears have significantly reduced survival regardless of biochemical assessment compared to FNE bears.

Project description:Across Southeast Asia and China, more than 17000 Asian bears are kept under suboptimal conditions and farmed for their bile to meet the consumer demand for traditional medicine products. Years of unsterile and repetitive bile extraction contribute to the development of chronic sterile or bacterial cholecystitis, a pathology commonly diagnosed in formerly bile-farmed bears. In both human and veterinary medicine, the diagnostic value of the macroscopic bile examination for assessing gallbladder disease is unclear. The objective of this study is to identify the role of gallbladder bile color, viscosity, and turbidity, while comparing them with established markers of cholecystitis. Moreover, it aims to define the optimal duration of oral antibiotic treatment for chronic bacterial cholecystitis in bears associated with bile farming. Thirty-nine adult, formerly bile-farmed Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) were examined under anesthesia and underwent percutaneous ultrasound guided cholecystocentesis. A total of 59 bile samples were collected with 20 animals sampled twice to evaluate the therapeutic success. All bile aspirates were assessed macroscopically and microscopically followed by submission for bacterial culture and antimicrobial sensitivity. In the majority of bears, samples with cytological evidence of bactibilia lacked inflammatory cells and did not always correlate with positive bacterial cultures. The most common bacterial isolates were Enterococcus spp, Streptococcus spp and Escherichia coli. Based on our findings, the optimal duration of antibiotic treatment for chronic bacterial cholecystitis is 30 days. Moreover, unlike Gamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) and gallbladder wall thickness, the organoleptic properties of bile were found to be reliable markers of chronic gallbladder inflammation with color and turbidity indicating cholestasis. The current study highlights the importance of cholecystocentesis for the management of gallbladder disease and provides initial results on the possible diagnostic value of macroscopic bile examination.

Dataset Information

Prevalence and genotypic identification of Cryptosporidium spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in captive Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) in Heilongjiang and Fujian provinces of China.

Publications

Prevalence and genotypic identification of Cryptosporidium spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in captive Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) in Heilongjiang and Fujian provinces of China.

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