Identification of Cryptosporidzum xiaoi in diarrhoeic goat kids (Capra hircus) in Spain

Faecal specimens from five diarrhoeic goat kids (Capra hircus) younger than 21 days were collected in a goat farm in Galicia (NW Spain) and examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts Two Cryptosporidium-positive isolates were detected and selected for molecular examination A banding pattern indicative of Cryptosporidium bows was obtained after restriction analyses of PCR products from small-subunit rRNA genes However both positive isolates were identified as Cryptosporidium xiaoi by sequence analyses of SSU rRNA and actin genes Our results demonstrate that domestic goats are a host for C xiao, and suggest that this parasite species may be Involved in the aetiology of neonatal diarrhoeic outbreaks in goat farms This is the first published description of C xiaoi in goat kids in Spain (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved