title: Prevalence of Giardia spp. infection in pre-weaned and weaned calves in relation to management factors.
abstract: Two hundred and forty calf faecal samples from 16 Malaysian farms were screened by PCR for Giardia spp. The overall prevalence was 12.5% and the overall farm prevalence was 68.8% (11/16 farms). The prevalence in pre-weaned and weaned calves was 16.7% and 8.3%, respectively. Sequence analysis of 25 isolates identified all as G. duodenalis assemblage E. Management factors associated with an increased risk of infection with Giardia spp. included keeping weaned calves in pens with sand floors and calf age. Keeping pre-weaned calves in pens with concrete floors and calving in single cow calving areas decreased the risk.
authors.affiliation: Downstream Industry Development Division, Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia, Lot 4G1, Presint 4, Wisma Tani, 62630 Putrajaya, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muhid
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Rongchang
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Una
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003612:Dairying; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D060005:Genotyping Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D005872:Giardia / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D014886:Weaning