title: Prevalence of Cryptosporidium infections in pigs in Aragón (northeastern Spain).
abstract: Faecal samples from 620 pigs randomly selected from 27 farms throughout Aragón were examined to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infections. Detection of oocysts was performed using the ethyl-acetate stool concentration method and the modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique. Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts were identified in 136 (21.9%) pigs from 21 (77.8%) farms. Infected animals ranged from 1 to 6 months old and oocysts were not detected in suckling piglets or adults. Infection rates were significantly higher in weaned, 1-2 month old piglets (59.2%) than in fattening, 2-6 month old pigs (34.3%) (P < 0.001). Cryptosporidial infections were asymptomatic in most of the pigs (90.4%) and usually of low intensity, since 92.6% of the infected pigs excreted few oocysts (0-1 oocysts per field at x 200 magnifications). Although 24.1% of weaned and 5.6% of fattening pigs infected by C. parvum had diarrhoea, it was not found to be statistically associated with infection. In fact, infection rates were higher in non-diarrhoeic than in diarrhoeic pigs, in both weaned (64.7% and 46.7%, respectively) and fattening pigs (34.3% and 33.3%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Pathology, Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University Autónoma of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quílez
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Acedo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clavel
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: del Cacho
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: López-Bernad
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D001200:Ascaris / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001447:Balantidiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D001448:Balantidium; D016844:Blastocystis; D016776:Blastocystis Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014886:Weaning