Cryptosporidium infection in weaners, bull calves and postparturient cows in the Belgrade area

Abstract

This is the first study reporting on Cryptospohdium infection in weaners bull calves and postparturient cows in Yugoslavia. The investigation was done on asymptomatic animals. The infection was diagnosed according to the stool examination, using Sheathers sugar flotation, a modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique and BBL TB Quick Stain. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 31.0% weaners, 49.0% bull calves and 47.5% postparturient cows. These findings clearly demonstrate the presence of asymptomatic infection in animals in the Belgrade area and indicate the potential role of such cattle as reservoirs of parasites.

U ovom radu se prvi put iznose podaci o infekciji kriptosporidijama kod zalučene teladi, junadi i krava posle porođaja u Jugoslaviji. Ispitivanje je sprovedeno kod životinja bez kliničkih simptoma a infekcija je dijagnostikovana koprološkim pretragama, upotrebom flotacione metode po Sheatheru, modifikovane Ziehl-Neelsenove tehnike i BBLTB Quick bojenja. Cryptosporidium oociste ustanovljene su kod 31,0 % zalučene teladi, 49,0 % junadi i kod 47,5 % krava posle porođaja. Ovi nalazi jasno pokazuju prisustvo asimptomatske infekcije kod ovih životinja na području Beograda i ukazuju na potencijalnu ulogu goveda kao rezervoara parazita.