Public Health Importance of The Zoonotic Species of Cryptosporidium Identified in Sheep and Goats in Federal Capital Territory Abuja and Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Cryptosporidiosis is a significant parasitic disease in small ruminants caused by various Cryptosporidium species. It causes economic losses and poses a potential zoonotic transmission risk. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and molecular characteristics of Cryptosporidium species in small ruminants using PCR and sequence analysis. The study investigated the prevalence of Cryptosporidium using PCR targeting 18S rRNA in 74 samples. Of these, fourteen PCR products were amplified successfully and were sequenced. Sequence analysis was done to identify C. parvum (50%) and C. xiaoi (7%) as the primary species. The close genetic relationship between C. parvum amplicons and the human genotype (HFL5) in GenBank (AF093492) indicates that this strain may pose a risk to human health, highlighting its zoonotic potential. Additionally, the C. xiaoi strain identified in this study appeared to be a different strain (97.9% similar to reference C. xiaoi sequences in the GenBank), possibly representing a genetically distinct variant, as it clustered separately from other known strains. The distribution pattern of C. parvum infection showed a significant age-related pattern, with higher prevalence in kids and lambs (0-12 months of age), while C. xiaoi was found in an adult sheep (13-24) months of age. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding the public health implications of Cryptosporidium infections in sheep and goats. Phylogenetic Analysis revealed the relationships between isolated strains and strains from other geographical locations, indicating the need for further research to elucidate the zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium species in small ruminants.