Abstract: Cryptosporidiosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Cryptosporidium infection with the main symptom of diarrhea. The present study performed a metaanalysis to determine the global prevalence of Cryptosporidium in Equus animals. Unassigned: Data collection was carried out using Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Chinese journal database (VIP), WanFang Data, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases, with 35 articles published before 2021 being included in this systematic analysis. This study analyzed the research data through subgroup analysis and univariate regression analysis to reveal the factors leading to high prevalence. We applied a random effects model (REM) to the metadata. Unassigned: The total prevalence rate of Cryptosporidium in Equus was estimated to be 7.59% from the selected articles. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium in female Equus was 2.60%. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium in Equus under 1-year-old was 11.06%, which was higher than that of Equus over 1-year-old (2.52%). In the experimental method groups, the positive rate detected by microscopy was the highest (10.52%). The highest Cryptosporidium prevalence was found in scale breeding Equus (7.86%). The horses had the lowest Cryptosporidium prevalence (7.32%) among host groups. C. muris was the most frequently detected genotype in the samples (53.55%). In the groups of geographical factors, the prevalence rate of Cryptosporidium in Equus was higher in regions with low altitude (6.88%), rainy (15.63%), humid (22.69%), and tropical climates (16.46%). Unassigned: The search strategy use of five databases might have caused the omission of some researches. This metaanalysis systematically presented the global prevalence and potential risk factors of Cryptosporidium infection in Equus. The farmers should strengthen the management of young and female Equus animals, improve water filtration systems, reduce stocking densities, and harmless treatment of livestock manure.
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This study is a meta-analysis that explores the global prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in Equus animals (like horses, zebras, and donkeys) and identifies the risk factors associated with it.
Methodology
The data for this meta-study was collected from various databases such as the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Chinese journal database, WanFang Data, PubMed, and ScienceDirect.
In all, 35 articles published before 2021 were included in the systematic review. The study analyzed the research data through a methodological approach involving subgroup analysis and univariate regression analysis.
The researchers applied a statistical tool called the Random Effects Model (REM) to the assembled data.
Results and Findings
This meta-analysis estimated the overall prevalence rate of Cryptosporidium infection in Equus animals to be approximately 7.59% based on the articles selected for the study.
When broken down by gender, the prevalence was found to be higher in females (2.60%). It was found that younger Equus animals (under the age of one) had a higher prevalence (11.06%) compared to older ones (2.52%).
Among the different testing methods used, microscopy yielded the highest positive detection rate (10.52%).
Scale breeding Equus had the highest prevalence (7.86%), and among host groups, horses exhibited the lowest levels (7.32%) of Cryptosporidium prevalence.
The most commonly detected type of Cryptosporidium was the C. muris genotype (53.55%).
Geographical factors also affected prevalence rates, with low-altitude, high rainfall, humid, and tropical climates showing higher rates of infection.
Limitations and Recommendations
The study acknowledges that the use of five databases for the search strategy might have resulted in the omission of some relevant research.
The study provided recommendations for farmers to manage the Cryptosporidium infection. This includes stronger management of young and female Equus animals, improvements in their water filtration systems, reductions in stocking densities, and safe treatment of livestock manure.
Cite This Article
APA
Li XM, Geng HL, Wei YJ, Yan WL, Liu J, Wei XY, Zhang M, Wang XY, Zhang XX, Liu G.
(2022).
Global prevalence and risk factors of Cryptosporidium infection in Equus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Front Cell Infect Microbiol, 12, 1072385.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2022.1072385
College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
Geng, Hong-Li
College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
Wei, Yong-Jie
College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
Yan, Wei-Lan
College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
Liu, Jing
College of Life Science, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Shuangyang, Jilin, China.
Wei, Xin-Yu
College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, China.
Zhang, Miao
College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
Wang, Xiang-Yu
College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
Zhang, Xiao-Xuan
College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
Liu, Gang
College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
MeSH Terms
Female
Animals
Horses
Cryptosporidiosis / epidemiology
Cryptosporidium / genetics
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Zoonoses / epidemiology
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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