Occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. in chickens (Gallus domesticus) raised in different systems in the State of São Paulo

• Grant number: 15/10819-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2015
• End date: November 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Vasconcelos Meireles
• Grantee: Brayan Kurahara
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FMVA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Cryptosporidiosis is in a major protozoan infection of the respiratory or digestive tract in many orders of birds. In birds, there is description of infection by Cryptosporidium baileyi, Cryptosporidium galli and Cryptosporidium meleagridis, and by several genotypes not yet classified as species. Cryptosporidium infection are present in a wide variety of bird species, particularly in the digestive and respiratory tracts. Cryptosporidium meleagridis also represents a risk to public health, since it is one of the most common species found in humans. There is no studies in Brazil, on the occurrence of infection by Cryptosporidium spp. in chickens raised in semi-intensive and extensive farming systems. This study aims to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in chickens raised insemi-intensive or extensive farming systems in the State of São Paulo. Fecal samples will be collected in approximately municipalities in the state of São Paulo. Approximately 10 samples (individual or pool) per flock will be collected, with approximately 300 samples. The samples will be submitted to the concentration and purification of oocysts by centrifugal-flotation in solution Sheather/0.1 % Tween 20 Sheather and screening for Cryptosporidium spp. by nested PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene.