The molecular epidemiology of Cryptosporidium and Giardia infections in coyotes from Alberta, Canada, and observations on some cohabiting parasites

Vet Parasitol. 2009 Feb 5;159(2):167-70. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2008.10.003. Epub 2008 Oct 11.

Abstract

Coyotes from southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada, were examined for the presence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium and cohabiting helminths. Toxascaris was present in over 90% of the 70 animals examined, and Taenia sp. in 6.5-25% of the two groups of animals studied. Giardia (12.5-21.7%) and Cryptosporidium (0-17.4%) were also common and molecular characterisation revealed both zoonotic and host-adapted genotypes of Giardia, whereas the Cryptosporidium proved to be a variant of the canine species C. canis. The seasonal variation observed in the occurrence of Cryptosporidium may be related to stress-induced shedding of the parasite.

MeSH terms

  • Alberta / epidemiology
  • Animals
  • Coyotes*
  • Cryptosporidiosis / epidemiology
  • Cryptosporidiosis / parasitology
  • Cryptosporidiosis / veterinary*
  • Cryptosporidium / genetics
  • DNA, Ribosomal / genetics
  • Giardia / genetics
  • Giardiasis / epidemiology
  • Giardiasis / parasitology
  • Giardiasis / veterinary*
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Parasitic Diseases, Animal / epidemiology
  • Parasitic Diseases, Animal / parasitology*
  • Phylogeny

Substances

  • DNA, Ribosomal