Abstract
Aim:Gastrointestinal diseases are among the leading causes of calf morbidity and mortality in Kenya and elsewhere. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidia, Eimeria, Giardia, and Strongyloides in calves on smallholder dairy farms (SDF) in Mukurwe-ini District, Nyeri County, Kenya. These infections have been associated with economic losses by decreased growth rates, decreased productivity, and increased susceptibility to other diseases.Materials and Methods:An observational study was conducted on 109 farms in Mukurwe-ini District, Nyeri County, Kenya, where 220 calf fecal samples (each calf at 4 and 6 weeks of age) from 110 calves (1 set of twins) were collected and analyzed for Cryptosporidia, Eimeria, Giardia, and helminth parasites.Results:Eimeria oocysts, Cryptosporidia oocysts, and Strongyloides eggs were detected in the fecal samples examined, but no Giardia cysts were found. The overall period prevalence of Eimeria, Cryptosporidia, and Strongyloides was 42.7% (47/110), 13.6% (15/110), and 5.4% (6/110), respectively. The prevalence at 4 weeks of age for Eimeria, Cryptosporidia, and Strongyloides was 30.0% (33/110), 8.2% (9/110), and 3.7% (4/109), respectively, while the prevalence at 6 weeks of age was 20.2% (22/109), 6.5% (7/107), and 2.7% (3/110), respectively. There was, however, no significant difference in the prevalence at 4 and 6 weeks (p>0.05).Conclusion:Findings from this study show that Eimeria, Cryptosporidia, and Strongyloides, are prevalent in the study area and indicate the need to adopt optimal management practices to control infections in calves.
Highlights
Gastrointestinal (GI) and respiratory diseases are the leading causes of calf morbidity and mortality in Kenya and Elsewhere [1,2,3]
Eimeria oocysts, Cryptosporidia oocysts, and Strongyloides eggs were detected in the fecal samples examined, but no Giardia cysts were found
There were no Giardia cysts detected in the fecal samples of the calves
Summary
Gastrointestinal (GI) and respiratory diseases are the leading causes of calf morbidity and mortality in Kenya and Elsewhere [1,2,3]. GI diseases in calves can be caused by protozoa such as Cryptosporidium, Coccidia, and Giardia; bacteria such as Escherichia coli; and viruses such as rotavirus and coronavirus [4,5]. Cryptosporidia, Coccidia, and Giardia have been associated with both clinical and sub-clinical disease in calves, resulting in great economic losses by decreased growth rates, decreased productivity, and increased susceptibility to other diseases [6,7,8]. GI nematode infections in cattle are widespread in the world [9], including herds in Kenya [8], causing constraints to productivity through decreased growth rates and mortalities.
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