Prevalence and Genetic Characterization of Cryptosporidium, Giardia and Enterocytozoon in Chickens From Ezhou, Hubei, China

spp., spp. and microsporidia are important intestinal protozoa responsible for diarrhea in humans and other mammals. China is a major chicken-raising country, and studies on these protozoa in chickens have important public health significance. Here, we investigated the prevalence and genetic characterization of these parasites in chickens from Ezhou City, Hubei Province, China. In total, 206 stool specimens were collected from chickens in four villages of Ezhou between July 2014 and February 2015. Genomic DNA of each specimen was tested by nested PCR based on the small subunit rRNA gene, the triose phosphate isomerase gene, and the internal transcribed spacer of the rRNA gene, respectively. The public health significance of and identified in our study was evaluated via phylogenetic analysis. The infection rates were determined to be 2.43% (5/206), 8.25% (17/206), and 1.94% (4/206) for , and , respectively. One sample showed coinfection with and . Meanwhile, sequence analysis of the PCR-positive samples showed that the was was assemblage C, and was genotype D and novel genotype EZ0008. This is the first report of zoonotic assemblage C in chickens in the world, and the first report of zoonotic genotype D in chickens in China. These findings indicate new transmission dynamics and molecular epizootiology.