Scientists of the Vologda GMCA determined the species composition of parasites in piglets in the Vologda region

Under the leadership of Andrei Leonidovich, scientists are studying the species composition of cryptosporidium piglets in the Vologda region using the latest molecular genetic techniques. Cryptosporidium is a genus of protozoa that can cause acute gastroenteritis accompanied by severe diarrhea. Young animals, birds, fish and humans are susceptible to the disease. it has been established that cryptosporidium takes the second place after rotavirus in the etiology of diarrhea and mortality in children. More than 40 cryptosporidium species have already been identified in the world using the latest molecular genetic techniques, but their species composition is regularly replenished with new taxa and their genotypes. The study of the taxonomic affiliation of cryptosporidium in piglets using molecular genetic methods has not been previously carried out in RUSSIA.

The studies were carried out in the conditions of industrial pig farms, as well as in private farms for raising pigs, located on the territory of the Vologda Oblast throughout its entire length, in various climatic and geographical locations. Biological material was obtained from piglets of different age groups: MILK piglets up to 1 month old, piglets 1-3 months old, 3-6 months old, older than six months and sows.

“As a result of our research, it was found that in the conditions of the North-West of the Russian Federation, using the example of the Vologda Oblast, both under industrial technology and in private farms, pigs of all age groups are infected with C. scrofarum,” Andrey Kryazhev shared, “Infection animals in both ways of keeping is approximately in the same range - about 30%. It was also noted that cryptosporidium is excreted by animals both with signs of diarrhea and without any symptoms, and the manifestation of diarrhea occurred mainly among piglets kept in pig complexes, and in farm conditions, diarrhea was practically not present in animals. This fact is consistent with the research of foreign scientists.

Also, Vologda scientists found that animals that are fattening at the age of 13-24 weeks are most susceptible to infection. While the majority of foreign researchers in Europe, America and Australia report the highest cryptosporidium infection in piglets aged 1-3 months.

“Our studies have shown that all animals are infested with only one type of cryptosporidium, C. scrofarum. A group of Chinese scientists also reports a similar fact. While a number of researchers write about the presence of two, and sometimes even three types of cryptosporidium in piglets, such as C. suis, C. scrofarum and C. parvum,” Andrey Leonidovich added.

In the future, scientists intend to find out whether the species of cryptosporidium first identified in the Russian Federation is pathogenic or conditionally pathogenic for pigs, since the parasites were also found in animals without signs of disease. It is also necessary to establish the timing of the parasite carrier and the potential danger of local genotypes for humans.