ARS | Publication request: Clinical and subclinical infections with Cryptosporidium in animals

Submitted to: New Zealand Veterinary Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: September 8, 2012
Publication Date: September 21, 2012
Citation: Santin, M. 2012. Clinical and subclinical infections with Cryptosporidium in animals. New Zealand Veterinary Journal. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2012.731681.

Interpretive Summary: Cryptosporidium infections occur in a wide spectrum of animals worldwide. Overall in veterinary medicine, the increased interest in Cryptosporidium has been mainly driven by public health concerns because cryptosporidiosis is a waterborne infection and a major concern to drinking water authorities and to a lesser extent by a veterinary perspective. However, in farm ruminants cryptosporidiosis is considered an important cause of acute diarrhea, causing important economic losses, with clinical symptoms that vary from asymptomatic to deadly. In companion animals most infections with Cryptosporidium are asymptomatic but severe clinical illness has been reported in dogs, cats and horses. In reptiles cryptosporidiosis is common and it is a life-threatening disease. The aim of this review is to present an overview of the current knowledge on clinical presentations on Cryptosporidium infections in livestock, pets, and other animals in which infection with this parasite is relevant.

Technical Abstract: Cryptosporidium spp. are frequent parasites of livestock and companion animals, raising questions about the clinical significance of such infections. Cryptosporidium infections have a wide spectrum of symptoms that can vary from asymptomatic to serious infection to death. This review presents the current knowledge on clinical cryptosporidiosis in livestock, pets, and other animals.