Prevalence of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium parvum in goat kids in western France

Abstract

A study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium parvum in goat kids in the western part of France. A total of 200 goat kid faeces classified by age groups (5 months, 6–8 months and 9–12 months) were sampled from 20 farms located in the Vendée department. Faecal samples were filtered, concentrated and examined for cysts and oocysts using a fluorescent monoclonal antibody test. G. duodenalis cysts were recovered in 100% of the farms. At the farm level, the prevalence of G. duodenalis cysts ranged from 10 to 80% of the surveyed animals. For the whole sample, the individual prevalence of cyst shedding was 38.0% and the numbers of cysts excreted ranged from 21 to 416,667 cysts/g of faeces. G. duodenalis cysts were found in all age groups and no significant differences in the percentage of animals positives were seen between the different groups. Nevertheless, G. duodenalis cysts counts were significantly higher ( P < 0.05) in goat kids of 6–8 months of age group compared to the other groups. No relationship was recorded between the level of Giardia infection, the history of post-weaning diarrhoea and the daily weight gain at 50 or 200 days of age. C. parvum oocysts were recovered in 15% of the farms. At the farm level, the prevalence of C. parvum oocysts ranged from 0 to 20% of the surveyed animals. The individual prevalence of C. parvum oocysts was 2.5%. The mean intensity of infection ranged from 77 to 223 oocysts/g of faeces. No significant differences were seen for both prevalence and intensity of infection between the different age groups. All the animals were asymptomatic, except eight goat kids of 5 months of age from three farms. Of these animals two were negative for both parasites, four had only detectable G. duodenalis cysts and the remaining two animals were found infected with both G. duodenalis and C. parvum.