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Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports
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Abstract: |
Cryptosporidium is a protozoan that causes acute gastroenteritis, abdominal pain, and diarrhea in
many vertebrate species, including humans, animals and birds. A number of studies have reported the
occurrence of Cryptosporidium in domestic pigeons. Thus, this study aimed to identify Cryptosporidium
spp. in samples collected from domestic pigeons, pigeon fanciers, and drinking water, as well as
to investigate the antiprotozoal activity of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the
viability of isolated Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum). Samples were collected from domestic
pigeons (n = 150), pigeon fanciers (n = 50), and drinking water (n = 50) and examined for the presence
of Cryptosporidium spp. using microscopic and molecular techniques. The antiprotozoal activity of
AgNPs was then assessed both in vitro and in vivo. Cryptosporidium spp. was identified in 16.4% of
all examined samples, with C. parvum identified in 5.6%. The highest frequency of isolation was from
domestic pigeon, rather than from pigeon fanciers or drinking water. In domestic pigeons, there
was a significant association between Cryptosporidium spp. positivity and pigeon’s age, droppings
consistency, housing, hygienic and heath conditions. However, Cryptosporidium spp. positivity was
only significantly associated with pigeon fanciers’ gender and heath condition. The viability of C.
parvum oocysts was reduced using AgNPs at various concentrations and storage times in a descending
manner. In an in vitro study, the highest reduction in C. parvum count was observed at the AgNPs
concentration of 1000 μg/mL after a 24 h contact time, followed by the AgNPs concentration of
500 μg/mL after a 24 h contact time. However, after a 48 h contact time, a complete reduction was
observed at both 1000 and 500 μg/mL concentrations. Overall, the count and viability of C. parvum
decreased with increasing the AgNPs concentration and contact times in both the in vitro and in vivo
studies. Furthermore, the C. parvum oocyst destruction was time-dependent and increased with
increasing the contact time at various AgNPs concentrations.
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