Prevalence and genetic diversity of intestinal parasites in Xilingol League herbivores, Inner Mongolia, Northern China

Microbiology Spectrum

卷:14

Research Article

Ziran Mo¹  Jingwei Quan¹  Jiahao Dao¹  Xiaoping Luo²  Penglong Wang²  Yurun Miao^1,3  Lei Xiu^1,4  Gaowa Gong²  Jian Li¹  Wenbin Yang^1,4  Junyan Li²  Wei Hu^1,4,5,6 

[1] Veterinary Research Institute, Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Hohhot, China

[2] Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of China Ministry of Health, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Joint Research Laboratory of Genetics and Ecology on Parasite-Host Interaction, Fudan University, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China

[3] Department of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai, China

[4] College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China

[5] Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Tick-borne Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Hetao College, Bayannur, China

[6] Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China

关键词: intestinal parasite;    Xilingol;    epidemiology;    genotype;    haplotype;   

DOI  :  10.1128/spectrum.01697-25

 received in 2025-06-02, accepted in 2025-11-24,  发布年份 2026

来源: American Society for Microbiology

【 摘 要 】

ABSTRACTIntestinal parasites are common infectious agents that substantially impact the health and productivity of livestock, with several species posing zoonotic risks. In this study, 205 fecal samples were collected from cattle, sheep, and goats in Xilingol League. Microscopic examination was performed to detect Eimeria spp., nematodes, and trematodes, whereas nested polymerase chain reaction assays were used to identify Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., and Enterocytozoon bieneusi. The results showed that the overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 80.5% (165/205) among herbivores, with a co-infection rate of 47.8% (98/205). Across host species, the prevalence rates were 92.8% (126/139) in sheep, 75.0% (12/16) in goats, and 52.0% (26/50) in cattle. The prevalences of Eimeria spp., nematodes, trematodes, G. duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., and E. bieneusi were 59.5%, 16.1%, 33.7%, 25.9%, 7.8%, and 4.9%, respectively. Genetic characterization further revealed distinct dominant lineages, including G. duodenalis (assemblages B and E), Cryptosporidium spp. (C. andersoni and C. xiaoi), and E. bieneusi (genotypes J and BEB6). Furthermore, infection with Eimeria spp. was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of co-infection with other intestinal parasites. Together, these findings provide a comprehensive overview of intestinal parasite co-infections among herbivores in Xilingol League and highlight pronounced interspecies differences and regional variation in parasite distribution.IMPORTANCEIntestinal parasitic infections remain a major constraint for animal health and productivity, especially in large-scale grassland livestock systems. Despite their economic and zoonotic implications, comprehensive assessments of intestinal parasite co-infection patterns in these ecosystems have been lacking. This study addresses this gap by characterizing the prevalence, diversity, and genetic makeup of key intestinal parasites in Xilingol League. The detection of frequent co-infections and predominant zoonotic genotypes underscores the importance of integrated parasite management strategies. Furthermore, infection with Eimeria spp. was significantly associated with co-infections involving other intestinal parasites, suggesting potential interactions that require further investigation. These insights are critical for informing region-specific parasite control measures, improving veterinary health outcomes, and reducing potential public health threats at the livestock-human interface.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
Copyright © 2026 Mo et al.

【 图 表 】

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