Cryptosporidium disease of small ruminants in the region of El Taref and Mostaghanem

Abstract

In order to identify and quantify Cryptosporidium infection in small ruminants in northern Algeria, specifically in the regions of Tarf and Mostaganem, a three-year survey was conducted between 2019 and 2021. The epidemiological investigation covered several aspects of the prevalence and etiology of Cryptosporidium, including various factors suspected to contribute to the spread of the causative agent of this disease. In addition, a confirmatory study was initiated, with bacteriological and histopathological tests performed on samples collected during the survey period from the various farms examined. The results showed that the epidemic takes several aspects for its spread as well as its persistence, the bacteriological results showed a coincidence of the presence of the pathogen in a significant proportion, and the histopathological interpretation of the slides revealed the diversity of lesions at the intestinal level with the predominance and inversion of enterocytes by sporozoites, resulting in the recurrence of lesions in the different organs collected in all species studied, cattle, sheep and goats.