{"id":3229,"date":"2021-12-08T18:34:02","date_gmt":"2021-12-08T18:34:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/biosciences\/?p=3229"},"modified":"2021-12-08T18:34:02","modified_gmt":"2021-12-08T18:34:02","slug":"research-reveals-parasitic-threat-to-dairy-industry-and-humans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/biosciences\/2021\/12\/08\/research-reveals-parasitic-threat-to-dairy-industry-and-humans\/","title":{"rendered":"Research reveals parasitic threat to dairy industry and humans"},"content":{"rendered":"

Collaborative research led by Kent\u2019s\u00a0School of Biosciences<\/a>\u00a0has found the prevalence of the parasite\u00a0Cryptosporidium<\/em>\u00a0to be greater than presumed, equating to a serious threat to the dairy industry and human life.<\/p>\n

Focusing on specimens of farm-based cow herds across Belgium, France and the Netherlands, consisting of 57 farms in total, the parasite was found to be 20-25% prevalent across all countries.<\/p>\n

These findings indicate that\u00a0Cryptosporidium<\/em>, which causes severe sickness in cows, has reached such levels as to be of major concern to the dairy cattle market of western mainland Europe.<\/p>\n

Researchers screened for the parasite in young calves and their mothers. This led to the discovery of different strains of\u00a0Cryptosporidium<\/em>, suggesting that the parasite is not inherited from the mothers, but might be accumulated from the environment.<\/p>\n

Coinciding with several outbreaks in recent years, researchers anticipate this might also spread in humans, especially when increased flooding may cause sewage to spread into water reservoirs.<\/p>\n

Cryptosporidium<\/em>\u00a0is dangerous owing the severe and lethal sickness it causes in dairy livestock and the threat it holds for human life, especially for young children or immunocompromised individuals.<\/p>\n

The parasite is also concerning as it becomes infectious in chlorine, meaning that traditional methods of stopping parasitic spread act to increase chances of infection, rather than preventing.<\/p>\n

Dr Anastasios Tsaousis, Reader in Molecular and Evolutionary Parasitology<\/a>\u00a0at Kent and the corresponding author of the paper, said: \u2018This research is of major importance in terms of product value in the dairy farm industry and safety to human life. The findings indicate\u00a0Cryptosporidium<\/em>\u00a0levels to be so high as to be of severe concern to the European and UK dairy market.<\/p>\n

\u2018This confirms the importance of an One Health approach when studying an outbreak akin to\u00a0Cryptosporidium<\/em>: we must consider its impact on human life, animal wellbeing and the environment.\u2019<\/p>\n

The paper, \u2018Cross-Border Investigations on the Prevalence and Transmission Dynamics of Cryptosporidium Species in Dairy Cattle Farms in Western Mainland Europe<\/em><\/a>\u2019, was funded by a European grant by the\u00a0Interreg-2-seas<\/a>\u00a0and it is published in\u00a0Microorganisms<\/em>.<\/p>\n

URL:\u00a0https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2607\/9\/11\/2394<\/a><\/p>\n

DOI: 10.3390\/microorganisms9112394<\/p>\n

Authors:
\nUniversity of Kent: Pedro Pinto, Dr Cl\u00e1udia A. Ribeiro, Sumaiya Hoque, Dr Anastasios D. Tsaousis;
\nUniversity of Lille, University of Li\u00e8ge, UPJV, ULCO and University of Artois: Ms Ourida Hammouma; Comportement Animal et Syst\u00e8mes d\u2019Elevage: Dr H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Leruste;
\nUniversity of Lille, Institut Mines-T\u00e9l\u00e9com, University of Artois: Dr S\u00e9bastien D\u00e9trich\u00e9;
\nInagro vzw: Dr Evi Canniere;
\nSouthern Agricultural and Horticultural Organisation (ZLTO): Yvonne Daandels, Martine Dellevoet, Janine Roemen;
\nSelas (France): Dr Anne Barbier Bourgeois;
\nInstitute of Parasitology and University of South Bohemia: Professor Martin Kv\u00e1\u010d;
\nUniversity of Lille and University Polytechnique Hauts de France: Dr J\u00e9r\u00f4me Follet.<\/p>\n