Occurrence of Cryptosporidium Coproantigens in Diarrhoeic Ruminants and Pigs in Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to detect Cryptosporidium coproantigens in diarrhoeic cattle, sheep, goats and pigs in Ogun state, southwest Nigeria. Faecal samples from 323 diarrhoeic animals comprising cattle (n=95), sheep (n=79), goats (n=51) and pigs (n=98), of different ages were collected and examined for Cryptosporidium antigens by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cryptosporidium antigens were detected in 48.6% (157/323) of the samples with the prevalence rate being significantly higher (p 0.05) from the rate recorded in males (43.8%). The high occurrence of Cryptosporidium coproantigens recorded in this study implies that the infection is of importance in diarrhoeic ruminants and pigs in Ogun state, Nigeria and these animals may serve as reservoirs of Cryptosporidium infective to humans in regular contact and also serve as sources of contamination of water with oocysts.