Prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. infection in some dairy herds of Mashhad (Iran) and its association with diarrhea in newborn calves

Prevalence of failure of passive transfer (FPT) of immunity remains relatively high worldwide. The aim of this study was to estimate the FPT prevalence in Czech dairy calves and to evaluate the selected factors – breed, herd size, sex of calves, single versus twin births and the influence of the season of birth. A total of 1,175 serum samples were taken from calves of Czech Fleckvieh and Holstein breed from 33 herds between October 2015 and October 2017. Serum IgG concentration was determined by reference method for IgG determination – radial immunodiffusion. Statistical evaluation was performed by Kruskal‑Wallis test. The concentration of IgG ranged from 1.5 to 46.6 g/L with average value 13.7 g/L and was significantly influenced by breed, size of the herd and season. Using the criterion IgG < 10 g/L, it was found that 34.6 % of calves had FPT. The prevalence of FPT by breed was 42.9 % vs. 24.2 % (Czech Fleckvieh vs. Holstein), by size of the herd 45.0, 44.4, 25.5 and 22.0 % (< 200, 200–399, 400–599 and ≥ 600 cows per herd, respectively) and by season 25.3, 34.6, 29.9 and 52.5 % (spring, summer, autumn and winter, respectively). The sex of calves was not found to be a statistically significant factor. The study in newborn calves showed that FPT is still an important problem in Czech dairy herds, especially in the Czech Fleckvieh breed. In smaller herds and especially in the winter, the prevalence of FPT was very high.

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Prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp., spatial clustering and patterns of shedding in dairy calves from Córdoba, Argentina

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612011000200009 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 140-147 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Karina Tiranti ◽

Alejandro Larriestra ◽

Claudina Vissio ◽

Natalia Picco ◽

Fabrisio Alustiza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Type ◽

Spatial Clustering ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Dairy Calves ◽

Dairy Herds ◽

Herd Prevalence ◽

Cryptosporidium Spp ◽

Variable Clustering ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Primary Cluster

The objectives of this study were to estimate calf and herd prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp., the herd prevalence clustering, spatial distribution according to soil type and shedding patterns in dairy calves from Cordoba, Argentina. Six hundred twenty calves younger than 7 weeks of age from 43 dairy herds were sampled. Samples were processed with the formol-ether and modified Ziehl-Neelsen techniques. Univariate analysis and Kruskall-Wallis tests were used. Factors associated were subjected to multivariate analysis with calf shedding intensity as the response variable. Clustering of herd prevalence was assessed by a scan method, and spatial analysis was applied to explore the overlapping of high prevalence herds and soil type. Overall calf prevalence for Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts and Giardia spp. cysts were 19.35% (95% CI: 16.14; 22.54) and 34.50% (95% CI: 30.69; 38.34), respectively. Calves younger than two weeks of age were almost four times more likely to be infected with Cryptosporidium, in comparison to older ones (RR: 3.78, 95% CI: 2.27; 6.26). Giardia spp. shedding showed a similar age pattern (RR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.02; 1.75). A primary cluster of high Cryptosporidium prevalence was found, and high prevalence herds were located in areas with poor drained soil.

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Seasonal and Age-Associated Pathogen Distribution in Newborn Calves with Diarrhea Admitted to ICU

Veterinary Sciences ◽

10.3390/vetsci8070128 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (7) ◽

pp. 128

Author(s):

Engin Berber ◽

Nurettin Çanakoğlu ◽

İbrahim Sözdutmaz ◽

Emrah Simsek ◽

Neslihan Sursal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Winter Season ◽

Clinical Importance ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Bovine Rotavirus ◽

Severe Diarrhea ◽

Cryptosporidium Spp ◽

Pathogen Screening ◽

Newborn Calves ◽

Calf Mortality ◽

Infectious Pathogen

Calf mortality constitutes a substantial loss for agriculture economy-based countries and is also a significant herd problem in developed countries. However, the occurrence and frequency of responsible gastro-intestinal (GI) pathogens in severe newborn diarrhea is still not well known. We aimed to determine the seasonal and age-associated pathogen distribution of severe diarrhea in newborn calves admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Erciyes University animal hospital over a year. Fecal samples were collected during the ICU admissions, and specimens were subjected to a diarrheal pathogen screening panel that included bovine coronavirus (BCoV), Cryptosporidium spp., ETEC K99+, and bovine rotavirus, using RT-PCR and conventional PCR methods. Further isolation experiments were performed with permissive cell cultures and bacterial enrichment methods to identify the clinical importance of infectious pathogen shedding in the ICU. Among the hospitalized calves aged less than 45 days old, the majority of calves originated from small farms (85.9%). The pathogen that most frequently occurred was Cryptosporidium spp. (61.5%) followed by rotavirus (56.4%). The frequency of animal admission to ICU and GI pathogen identification was higher during the winter season (44.9%) when compared to other seasons. Most calves included in the study were 1–6 days old (44.9%). Lastly, co-infection with rotavirus and Cryptosporidium spp. occurred more frequently than other dual or multi-infection events. This study was the first to define severe diarrhea—causing GI pathogens from ICU admitted newborn calves in Turkey.

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Cryptosporidium spp. in calves and cows from organic and conventional dairy herds

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268812000830 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 141 (3) ◽

pp. 529-539 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

C. SILVERLÅS ◽

I. BLANCO-PENEDO

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Sodium Chloride ◽

Species Distribution ◽

Prepatent Period ◽

Epifluorescence Microscopy ◽

Dairy Herds ◽

Multivariable Model ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Cryptosporidium Spp ◽

Faecal Samples

SUMMARYA cohort study was performed to investigate cryptosporidial prevalence and species distribution in 13 organic and 13 conventional dairy herds. Faecal samples were collected from 221 calves and 259 cows. Management routines were recorded at farm inspection and through a questionnaire. Samples were concentrated using sodium chloride flotation and cryptosporidial oocysts were detected by epifluorescence microscopy. Molecular analysis was used to determine species and subtypes. A multivariable model for factors associated with calves being Cryptosporidium spp. positive was built. Cryptosporidium spp.-positive animals were identified in all herds. Prevalences were similar in organic and conventional calves (44·7% vs. 52·3%), as well as in cows (3·1% vs. 3·8%), P > 0·05. Cryptosporidium bovis, C. ryanae and C. parvum were identified. C. ryanae was identified in a calf younger than the described prepatent period. The multivariable model included four significant variables; calf age, cleanliness of bedding, cleaning routines for group pens and farmers' attitudes towards biosecurity.

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