Cryptosporidium spp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Giardia duodenalis from animal sources in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Area (QTPA) in China.

Cryptosporidium spp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Giardia duodenalis are globally ubiquitous infectious parasitoses in humans and animals. The purpose of the present study was to determine the distribution and genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium spp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Giardia duodenalis from animal sources in different regions of QTPA in China. A total of 405 fresh fecal specimens from seven domestic animals were collected in Qinghai, Yunnan, and Tibet. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp., E. bieneusi and G. duodenalis was 3.0% (n = 12), 19.8% (n = 80) and 5.7% (n = 23), respectively. Four Cryptosporidium species (C. andersoni, C. xiaoi, C. bovis, and C. ryanae) were identified and C. bovis was firstly identified from camel. Ten genotypes of E. bieneusi were identified in the present study, including eight known genotype (BEB6, CAM2, CHG2, CAM1, COS I, J, CHS8, and CHG3), and two novel genotypes (YAK1 and PN). Genotype CAM2 was detected in horse, yak, and mongolian sheep for the first time and the novel genotype YAK1 was grouped into the human-pathogenic group 1. G. duodenalis assemblage E was common in all animal species, and the human-pathogenic assemblage A was only detected in yaks and camels. Our results elucidate the occurrence and genetic diversity of three zoonotic pathogens from different animals and regions in QTPA, which could act as potential zoonotic reservoirs. More areas and larger number of samples are required to assess the potential risk of cross-species transmission in this region.