Molecular genetic characterization of Cryptosporidium and Cystoisospora protozoan infections in cats from large cities of Kazakhstan

In total, we examined 1,301 fecal samples and found that 31 (2.4%) contained <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp., including 10 identified as <i>Cryptosporidium felis</i>. Additionally, 121 samples (9.3%) tested positive for <i>Cystoisospora felis</i>. The studied <i>Cryptosporidium parvum</i> isolates obtained in this study belong to subtype IIdA15G1, which is dominant and clusters well with previously reported sequences from different countries on the gp60 gene. Shelter cats are more susceptible to these parasites, with a prevalence of 3.1% for <i>Cryptosporidium</i> and a notably higher rate of 19.0% for <i>Cystoisospora</i>. In contrast, companion cats showed lower rates, at 1.6% for <i>Cryptosporidium</i> and 5.1% for <i>Cystoisospora</i>. Our findings identified the species <i>Cystoisospora felis</i>, <i>Cryptosporidium parvum</i>, and <i>Cryptosporidium felis</i>, with a determined subtype of XIXa.