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ARS Home » Plains Area » Kerrville, Texas » Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory » LAPRU » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #325426
Research Project: Cattle Fever Tick Control and Eradication

Location: Livestock Arthropod Pests Research

Title: Prevalence of Cryptosporidium in small ruminants from Veracruz, Mexico

Author
item ROMERO-SALAS, DORA - University Of Veracruzana
item ALVARADO-ESQUIVEL, COSME - Juarez University Of The State Of Durango
item CRUS-ROMERO, ANABEL - University Of Veracruzana
item AGUILAR-DOMINGUEZ, MARIEL - University Of Veracruzana
item IBARA-PRIEGO, NELLLY - University Of Tamaulipas
item Perez De Leon, Adalberto - Beto
item HERNANDEZ-TINOCO, JESUS - Juarez University Of The State Of Durango

Submitted to: BioMed Central (BMC) Veterinary Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/14/2016
Publication Date: 1/19/2016
Citation: Romero-Salas, D., Alvarado-Esquivel, C., Crus-Romero, A., Aguilar-Dominguez, M., Ibara-Priego, N., Perez De Leon, A.A., Hernandez-Tinoco, J. 2016. Prevalence of Cryptosporidium in small ruminants from Veracruz, Mexico. BioMed Central (BMC) Veterinary Research. 12:14-19.

Interpretive Summary: Several species of single-celled microscopic animals in the genus Cryptosporidium, or Cryptosporidium spp., can cause disease, known as cryptosporidiosis, and are transmitted from domestic animals to humans. Cryptosporidiosis in young sheep and goats is characterized by outbreaks of diarrhea, which can affect many animals in a herd and economic loss for the producer. Here, we report our findings on the proportion of sheep and goats infected with Cryptosporidium spp. among herds from the Perote municipality in Veracruz State, Mexico. Eighty sheep and eighty goats from eight farms located in four towns of the Perote municipality were examined. Stool samples were analyzed in the laboratory to determine the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. Data collected during the study were analyzed to assess the association of Cryptosporidium infection and the general characteristics of the animals studied. Overall, 112 of the 160 animals sampled were infected with Cryptosporidium spp. Seventy-two % of the goats and 67.5% of the sheep were infected with Cryptosporidium spp. Animals 1 month old had the highest infection rate. Infection rates varied from 60 % to 85 % among herds. Animal species, age, sex, breed, farm, town or cohabitation with cattle did not influence the rate of Cryptosporidium infection. The high rate of Cryptosporidium spp. infection was widely distributed among sheep and goats regardless of their age, breed or farm location. Further research is required to identify risk factors for, and to assess the veterinary public health significance of Cryptosporidium infection among sheep and goats in the Mexican state of Veracruz.

Technical Abstract: Cryptosporidiosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium spp. that can affect domestic animal and human populations. In newborn ruminants, cryptosporidiosis is characterized by outbreaks of diarrhea, which can result in high morbidity and economic impact. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in small ruminants from the Perote municipality in Veracruz State, Mexico. One hundred and sixty small ruminants (80 sheep and 80 goats) from eight farms located in four towns of the Perote municipality were examined following a cross-sectional study design. Stool samples were analyzed by a modification of the Faust centrifugation method, and the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts was examined using a modification of the Ziehl-Neelsen staining procedure. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the association of Cryptosporidium infection and the general characteristics of the animals studied.