Prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp in dairy calves in north-eastern Algeria

SUMMARY Parasitological investigations were carried out in dairy calves in Algeria to determine the prevalence and the intensity of oocyst output of Cryptosporidium sp infection according to the age and the relationship with the diarrhoea. Fresh faecal samples were collected from 566 less than 12 month-old dairy calves from 40 cattle herds located in 4 regions of north-eastern Algeria. Faeces were processed through concentration and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining techniques and the presence of Cryptosporidium sp oocysts was scored semi-quantitatively (0 to 3+). Oocysts were identified in 29 herds out of 40 (herd prevalence: 72.5%) and the within-herd prevalences ranged from 6 to 100%. The overall calf prevalence was 24.7 ± 1.8%. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp infection was strongly correlated with calf age with highest values around 45% being observed in 4-14 day-old and 15-30 day-old animals. Furthermore, the highest faecal excretion scores were observed in same age groups. The overall percentage of diarrhoeic calves was 15.0% and peaked to 59.3% for the 4-14 day-old cryptosporidiosis positive animals. In this age class, the diarrhoea frequency was significantly and positively coupled to the intensity of faecal oocyst excretion. These results show that Cryptosporidium sp infections are highly prevalent in <1 month-old dairy calves in north-eastern Algeria and should be considered in animals with diarrhoea.

[1]  Cibele R. Bonvicino,et al.  Molecular Epidemiology of , 2012 .

[2]  Y. Fukuda,et al.  Cryptosporidium genotypes and subtypes in dairy calves in Egypt. , 2010, Veterinary parasitology.

[3]  Lihua Xiao.  Molecular epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis: an update. , 2010, Experimental parasitology.

[4]  C. Palmer,et al.  The public health and clinical significance of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in domestic animals , 2007, The Veterinary Journal.

[5]  A. Ayadi,et al.  Cryptosporidium parvum (Eucoccidiorida: Cryptosporiidae) in calves: results of a longitudinal study in a dairy farm in Sfax, Tunisia. , 2007, Parasite.

[6]  R. O'Handley.  Cryptosporidium parvum infection in cattle: are current perceptions accurate? , 2007, Trends in Parasitology.

[7]  A. Peregrine,et al.  Calf-level risk factors for neonatal diarrhea and shedding of Cryptosporidium parvum in Ontario dairy calves , 2007, Preventive Veterinary Medicine.

[8]  K. Adjou,et al.  Épidemiologie de la cryptosporidiose chez les bovins en Algérie , 2007 .

[9]  M. Mezo,et al.  Prevalence and intensity of infection of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in dairy cattle in Galicia (NW Spain). , 2006, Journal of veterinary medicine. B, Infectious diseases and veterinary public health.

[10]  S. Martin,et al.  Prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum infection in southwestern Ontario and its association with diarrhea in neonatal dairy calves. , 2005, The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne.

[11]  E. Ares-Mazás,et al.  A study of cryptosporidiosis in a cohort of neonatal calves. , 2002, Veterinary parasitology.

[12]  J. Noordhuizen,et al.  Epidemiology of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis on a dairy farm. , 2001, Veterinary parasitology.

[13]  D. Nydam,et al.  Number of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts or Giardia spp cysts shed by dairy calves after natural infection. , 2001, American journal of veterinary research.

[14]  J. Matsuo,et al.  Prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum infection and pattern of oocyst shedding in calves in Japan. , 2000, Veterinary parasitology.

[15]  Emmanuel Vanopdenbosch,et al.  A review of the importance of cryptosporidiosis in farm animals , 1999, International Journal for Parasitology.

[16]  D. Morck,et al.  Duration of naturally acquired giardiosis and cryptosporidiosis in dairy calves and their association with diarrhea. , 1999, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

[17]  D. Morck,et al.  Giardia and Cryptosporidium in dairy calves in British Columbia. , 1997, The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne.

[18]  E. Greiner,et al.  Patterns of Cryptosporidium oocyst shedding in calves and a comparison of two diagnostic methods. , 1995, Veterinary parasitology.

[19]  R. Herd,et al.  Infection pattern of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in calves. , 1994, Veterinary parasitology.

[20]  Henriksen Sa,et al.  Staining of Cryptosporidia by a Modified Ziehl-Neelsen Technique , 1981, Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica.

[21]  D S Ridley,et al.  Further observations on the formol-ether concentration technique for faecal parasites. , 1970, Journal of clinical pathology.