Epidemiology of equine Cryptosporidium and Giardia infections.

Prevalence and infection patterns of Cryptosporidium and Giardia infections in horses were studied by a direct immunofluorescence staining method. Faecal examinations of 222 horses of different age groups revealed Cryptosporidium infection rates of 15-31% in 66 foals surveyed in central Ohio, southern Ohio and central Kentucky, USA. Only 1 of 39 weanlings, 0 of 46 yearlings, and 0 of 71 mares were positive. Giardia infection was found in all age groups, although the infection rates for foals were higher (17-35%). Chronological study of infection in 35 foals showed that foals started to excrete Cryptosporidium oocysts between 4 and 19 weeks and Giardia cysts between 2 and 22 weeks of age. The cumulative infection rates of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in foals were each 71%. Some foals were concurrently infected with both parasites and excretion of oocysts or cysts was intermittent and long-lasting. The longest duration of excretion was 14 weeks for Cryptosporidium and 16 weeks for Giardia. Excretion of Cryptosporidium oocysts stopped before weaning, while excretion of Giardia cysts continued thereafter. Infected foals were considered the major source of Cryptosporidium infection in foals, whereas infected mares were deemed the major source of Giardia infection in foals. The high infection rate of Giardia in nursing mares suggested a periparturient relaxation of immunity. The results indicated that Cryptosporidium and Giardia infections are common in horses.

[1]  R. Herd,et al.  Review of equine Cryptosporidium infection , 1994, Equine Veterinary Journal.

[2]  R. Herd,et al.  Concurrent infections of Giardia and Cryptosporidium on two Ohio farms with calf diarrhea , 1993, Veterinary Parasitology.

[3]  R. Herd,et al.  Diagnosis of Cryptosporidium on a sheep farm with neonatal diarrhea by immunofluorescence assays , 1993, Veterinary Parasitology.

[4]  P. Echeverria,et al.  Endemic Cryptosporidium and Giardia lamblia infections in a Thai orphanage. , 1990, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene.

[5]  T S Mair,et al.  Concurrent cryptosporidium and coronavirus infections in an Arabian foal with combined immunodeficiency syndrome , 1990, Veterinary Record.

[6]  C. Sterling,et al.  Comparison of conventional staining methods and monoclonal antibody-based methods for Cryptosporidium oocyst detection , 1989, Journal of clinical microbiology.

[7]  R. Corstvet,et al.  Prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp in equids in Louisiana. , 1989, American journal of veterinary research.

[8]  S. Tzipori.  Cryptosporidiosis in Perspective , 1988, Advances in Parasitology.

[9]  L. McCaig,et al.  Shedding of oocysts in immunocompetent individuals infected with Cryptosporidium. , 1987, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene.

[10]  L. Jokipii,et al.  Timing of symptoms and oocyst excretion in human cryptosporidiosis. , 1986, The New England journal of medicine.

[11]  E. Meyer.  The epidemiology of Giardiasis. , 1985, Parasitology today.

[12]  L. Jokipii,et al.  Cryptosporidiosis associated with traveling and giardiasis. , 1985, Gastroenterology.

[13]  L. Jokipii,et al.  PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF ACQUISITION OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM, GIARDIA LAMBLIA, AND GASTROINTESTINAL ILLNESS , 1985, The Lancet.

[14]  Kirkpatrick Ce,et al.  Giardiasis in a horse. , 1985 .

[15]  J. S. Wolfson,et al.  Cryptosporidiosis in immunocompetent patients. , 1985, The New England journal of medicine.

[16]  J. Caron,et al.  Cryptosporidiosis in two foals. , 1985, The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne.

[17]  C. Reinemeyer,et al.  Absence of cryptosporidium oocysts in faeces of neonatal foals. , 1984, Equine veterinary journal.

[18]  J. S. Wolfson,et al.  An association between cryptosporidium and giardia in stool. , 1984, The New England journal of medicine.

[19]  J. Gibson,et al.  Cryptosporidiosis in Arabian foals with severe combined immunodeficiency. , 1983, Australian veterinary journal.

[20]  S. Tzipori,et al.  Cryptosporidiosis in animals and humans. , 1983, Microbiological reviews.

[21]  O. Fischer.  Attempted Therapy and Prophylaxis of Cryptosporidiosis in Calves by Administration of Sulphadimidine , 1983 .

[22]  Anderson Bc.  Patterns of shedding of cryptosporidial oocysts in Idaho calves. , 1981 .

[23]  S. Snyder,et al.  Cryptosporidiosis in Immunodeficient Arabian Foals , 1978, Veterinary pathology.

[24]  F. F. Manahan.  Diarrhoea in horses with particular reference to a chronic diarrhoea syndrome. , 1970, Australian veterinary journal.

[25]  H. Fantham.  Some Parasitic Protozoa found in South Africa. III. , 1919 .