The Prevalence and Pathogenicity of Cryptosporidium Sp. (Protozoa) in Livestock
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Date
1985
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Publisher
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria
Abstract
A survey of the incidence of cryptosporidial oocysts in the faeces of pigs, sheep, goats and cattle
was carried out using Giemsa stained faecal smears. A total of 230 pigs,150 sheep, 130 goats and
105 cattle were tasted. Cryptosporidial oocysts were detected in 78.13% diarrheic and
nondiarrnoeic pigs examined. 12%, 3.8%, and 7.6% clinically healthy sheep, goats and cattle
respectively were found shedding the oocysts of the organism. Incidence of cryptosporidial
oocysts was significantly (P <0.05) higher in young animals between 110 weeks old than in older
animals. Animals with and without diarrhea were found to be shedding oocysts in their faeces.
Five piglets were experimentally infected with approximately 1,500 sporulated cryptospoeidal
oocysts, whilst five others served as uninfected controls. None of the five infected pi lets
developed clinical illness of cryptosporidiosis.
There was neither diarrhoea, vomiting nor in appetence. Sheddings of oocysts in the faeces of the
infected piglets began as from day post infection (p.i) and this continued throughout the eight
week period of the experiment. Slight decrease in the body weight of the infected piglets were
observed on the 2nd-5th week p.i., however, these animals regained their body weights 6th week
p.i. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the average weekly body weight gain of
infected piglets when compared with control piglets (120gm/wk Vs 400gm/wk).
Two control and. two infected piglets were slaughtered eight weeks p. i. There were minimal
pathological lessions along the small intestine of the infected piglets. Histologically, there were
the stunting and fusion of the villi of the small intestine. The sub-mucosa was eroded and the
lamina propria, were infiltrated with cellular debris consisting of sloughed epithelial cells.
Cryptosporidia were found attached to the villi of the small intestine. There was a proliferation of
Kuppfer cells in the liver, indicative of phagocytic activities in the liver of the infected piglets.
The kidney and the spleen were not affected histologically.
Description
76p
Keywords
Cryptosporidial, Histology, Oocysts, Body weight, Pathology