Sheep as a Potential Source of Zoonotic Cryptosporidiosis in China

Cryptosporidium is an important zoonotic parasite that causes diarrhea in humans and animals worldwide. Previous studies suggested geographic differences in the distribution of Cryptosporidium species in sheep. However, molecular characterization studies of Cryptosporidium species in sheep have been carried out in only a few provinces in China, and the limited data available do not reflect the real situation. In this study, five districts, covering most areas where sheep are bred in China, were selected for examination of Cryptosporidium species, and Cryptosporidium infections were detected at all farms assessed, suggesting that Cryptosporidium is widespread in sheep in China. We also found geographic differences in the distribution of Cryptosporidium species but did not detect any differences between sheep age groups or seasons. Subtyping analyses showed that all of the subtypes identified in this study have been reported in humans, suggesting that sheep may be a potential source of zoonotic cryptosporidiosis.