title: Epidemiology of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis on a dairy farm.
abstract: Prevalences of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in relation to age and season were investigated on a dairy farm in The Netherlands over the course of 1year. The whole herd was sampled five times, whereas calves younger than about 2 months were sampled every 2-3 weeks. Associations between diarrhoea and presence of one or more pathogens (Cryptosporidium spp., G. duodenalis, rotavirus) were investigated. Potential transmission routes of Cryptosporidium spp. were evaluated and positive samples of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis were identified to genotype level by PCR microsatellite identification and fingerprinting. Shedding of Cryptosporidium spp. was found in all age categories but peaked in calves 1-3 weeks old (39.1%). Herd prevalence of shedding for Cryptosporidium spp. varied from 2.4% in June to 22.2% in December. Shedding of G. duodenalis was found in all age categories but peaked in animals 4-5 months old (54.5%). Herd prevalence of shedding for G. duodenalis varied from 0.8% in June to 15.5% in February. Cryptosporidium spp. and rotavirus appeared to be significantly associated with diarrhoea in calves. Microsatellite analysis showed two different subtypes (C3 and C1) of Cryptosporidium parvum calf strains. Two genotypes of G. duodenalis were found, one positive by A lineage specific PCR and thus closely related to human genotypes and one genotype, which was negative by A and B lineage specific PCR. The results indicate that cow-to-calf and indirect calf-to-calf transmission both are important routes for acquiring infection with Cryptosporidium spp.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, P.O. Box 80.165, 3508 TD, Utrecht, The Netherlands
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Huetink
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: van der Giessen
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Noordhuizen
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Ploeger
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003612:Dairying; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D005872:Giardia / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000662:veterinary; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons