ARS | Publication request: Detection of multiple zoonotic infectious agents in cattle with Blastocystis, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Enterocytozoon by molecular and microscopic methods

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 8, 2012
Publication Date: August 5, 2012
Citation: Fayer, R., Santin, M., Macarisin, D. 2012. Detection of multiple zoonotic infectious agents in cattle with Blastocystis, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Enterocytozoon by molecular and microscopic methods. Meeting Abstract. p. 73.

Technical Abstract: Feces from 47 dairy cattle ranging in age from neonates to multiparous cows were examined and 9, 10, 24, and 17 were found positive for Blastocystis spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi, respectively, by PCR. Eight 3- to 5-month-old cattle were concurrently infected with 3 or 4 of these parasites. This is the first report to identify multiple concurrent infections with these four potentially zoonotic protist pathogens in cattle. None of the cattle exhibited signs of illness or effects of infection on growth and are regarded as healthy carriers. A commercially available immunofluorescence (IFA) microscopic test confirmed 6 of 7 available PCR-positive Blastocystis specimens and identified one IFA positive cow that was PCR negative.