Research reveals serious threat to dairy industry and human life from parasite

Collaborative research led by the University of Kent’s School of Biosciences has found the prevalence of the parasite Cryptosporidium to be greater than presumed, equating to a serious threat to the dairy industry and human life.

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.

These findings indicate that Cryptosporidium, 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.

Researchers screened for the parasite in young calves and their mothers. This led to the discovery of different strains of Cryptosporidium, suggesting that the parasite is not inherited from the mothers, but might be accumulated from the environment.

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.

Cryptosporidium is 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.

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.

Dr Anastasios Tsaousis, Reader in Molecular and Evolutionary Parasitology at Kent and the corresponding author of the paper, said: ‘This research is of major importance in terms of product value in the dairy farm industry and safety to human life. The findings indicate Cryptosporidium levels to be so high as to be of severe concern to the European and UK dairy market.

‘This confirms the importance of an One Health approach when studying an outbreak akin to Cryptosporidium: we must consider its impact on human life, animal wellbeing and the environment.’

The paper, ‘Cross-Border Investigations on the Prevalence and Transmission Dynamics of Cryptosporidium Species in Dairy Cattle Farms in Western Mainland Europe’, was funded by a European grant by the Interreg-2-seas and it is published in Microorganisms.

URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/11/2394

DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9112394

Authors:
University of Kent: Pedro Pinto, Dr Cláudia A. Ribeiro, Sumaiya Hoque, Dr Anastasios D. Tsaousis;
University of Lille, University of Liège, UPJV, ULCO and University of Artois: Ms Ourida Hammouma; Comportement Animal et Systèmes d’Elevage: Dr Hélène Leruste;
University of Lille, Institut Mines-Télécom, University of Artois: Dr Sébastien Détriché;
Inagro vzw: Dr Evi Canniere;
Southern Agricultural and Horticultural Organisation (ZLTO): Yvonne Daandels, Martine Dellevoet, Janine Roemen;
Selas (France): Dr Anne Barbier Bourgeois;
Institute of Parasitology and University of South Bohemia: Professor Martin Kváč;
University of Lille and University Polytechnique Hauts de France: Dr Jérôme Follet.