Cryptosporidium infection in cattle in Ogun state, Nigeria

Abstract

The prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in cattle faeces in Ogun state, Nigeria was determined by a commercially produced enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Out of a total of 200 samples, 37.5% were positive for Cryptosporidium coproantigens. The highest rate of infection (78.1%) was observed in calves up to 3 months of age while adult cattle over 4 years of age had the lowest rate of infection (25.0%). There were significant differences (p<0.05) between the infection rates of the different age groups of cattle sampled. There was however no significant difference (p>0.05) between the infection rates in males (41.2%) and females (33.6%). Furthermore, the infection rate in diarrhoeic cattle (43.2%) was not significantly higher (p>0.05) than in non-diarrhoeic cattle (32.4%). The result of the study showed that the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis is high in cattle in southwestern part of Nigeria with calves being at the highest risk.Keywords: Cattle, Cryptosporidium, ELISA,Ogun state Nigeria.