Prevalence of Cryptosporidium in calves in the Ubaté - Chiquinquirá Valley (Colombia)

Abstract

To contribute to the knowledge of cryptosporidiosis, recognize the prevalence of Cryptosporidium in calves and associate the presence of oocysts to the fecal consistence, a study was executed, collecting 170 samples of fecal material of calves, aged between five and 35 days, within 41 ranches located in the Ubate-Chinquinquira valley. In order to identify the Cryptosporidium oocysts the Heine technique was employed. Thirty seven (22%) of the 170 calves were positive and 18 (44%) of the 37 ranches showed at least one positive animal. The statistical analysis revealed an association between age and the presence of oocysts (X2 15; P 0.25). When comparing the fecal consistence with the infection intensity, no association was found (X2 1.7; P>0.42), result that confirms the high number of asymptomatic calves in the Ubate-Chiquinquira valley. The outcome of this research indicates an ample distribution of Cryptosporidium infection in the cattle ranches of the geographic area under survey.