title: Prevalence and intensity of infection of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in dairy cattle in Galicia (NW Spain).
abstract: Faecal samples were collected from 734 cattle selected at random from 60 dairy farms in Galicia (NW Spain). The animals studied were classified into 12 age groups: <1 month (53); 1-5 months (30); 6-11 months (31); 12-16 months (72); 17-20 months (64); 21-24 months (96); 3 years (94); 4 years (74); 5 years (67); 6 years (67); 7-8 years (63) and 9-13 years (23). Oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. were identified in 104 animals (14.2%) distributed throughout all of the age groups and from 40 different farms (66.7%). The percentage of cattle infected ranged between 58.5% in calves <1 month and 7.9% in 7 to 8-year-old cows, i.e. the percentage of infection decreased significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing age. The intensity of infection in animals older than 1 month ranged between 10 and 5924 oocysts/g of faeces and there were no significant differences between the different groups. Cysts of Giardia duodenalis were identified in 221 animals (30.1%) from 56 farms (93.3%). The parasite was detected in all age groups, at rates of infection ranging between 21.8% (9-13 years) and 56.7% (1-5 months), although these differences were not statistically significant. The intensity of infection ranged between 7 and 15 412 cysts/g of faeces, with the number of cysts shed being significantly higher (P < 0.05) in calves <1 month than in calves aged 1-5 months. Significant associations between parasitisation by Cryptosporidium spp. or G. duodenalis and the consistency of the faeces were only found in calves aged <1 month and 1-5 months. Concurrent infections were more prevalent in the groups of calves of 1-5 months (23.3%) and 6-11 months (25.8%).
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Agrarias de Mabegondo (CIAM), Carretera C-542 de Betanzos a Mesón do Vento, Abegondo (A Coruña), Galicia, Spain.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Castro-Hermida
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carro-Corral
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González-Warleta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mezo
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005872:Giardia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D033661:Oocysts / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology