title: Short communication: effect of pomegranate-residue supplement on Cryptosporidium parvum oocyst shedding in neonatal calves.
abstract: Cryptosporidium parvum is considered one of the most common enteropathogens, responsible for the high incidence of diarrhea and deleterious implications on immunity and health in neonatal calves. The pomegranate is well known for its health-promoting properties. Two experiments were designed to test the antiparasitical and antidiarrheal effects of concentrated pomegranate extract (CPE) supplement in milk in neonatal Holstein calves. Forty-one calves were randomly divided into control (n=20) and treatment (n=21) groups. For the first experiment, the treatment group was supplemented with 3.75% CPE in the daily milk ration, between 3 and 14 d of age, whereas the control group received only milk. Fecal samples were collected between d 5 and 13 to quantify Cryptosporidium oocysts, and the duration and intensity of diarrhea were evaluated. Reduced fecal oocyst count and diarrhea intensity and duration were revealed in the 3.75% CPE calves. No difference was noted in average daily gain between groups. In a second experiment, which was designed to test the effect of a lower CPE concentration (0.6% of daily milk allocation), no effects on fecal oocyst count and average daily gain were observed. However, compared with control, the lower CPE group was characterized by a shorter duration of diarrhea and higher weight gain among males at 14 d of age. These results suggest that the CPE supplement-to-calf milk ratio may potentially alleviate intestinal morbidity caused by Cryptosporidium.
authors: Department of Ruminant Science, Institute of Animal Science, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, PO Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel; Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Haifa, 31905 Haifa, Israel. Electronic address: sarah@volcani.agri.gov.il.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Weyl-Feinstein
authors: Department of Parasitology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, PO Box 12, Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Markovics
authors: Department of Ruminant Science, Institute of Animal Science, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, PO Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel; Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Haifa, 31905 Haifa, Israel.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Eitam
authors: Department of Ruminant Science, Institute of Animal Science, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, PO Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Orlov
authors: Department of Ruminant Science, Institute of Animal Science, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, PO Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Yishay
authors: Department of Ruminant Science, Institute of Animal Science, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, PO Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Agmon
authors: Department of Ruminant Science, Institute of Animal Science, Agricultural Research Organization, PO Box 6, 50250, Bet-Dagan, Israel.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Miron
authors: Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Haifa, 31905 Haifa, Israel.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Izhaki
authors: Department of Ruminant Science, Institute of Animal Science, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, PO Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Shabtay
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000494:pharmacology; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D029561:Lythraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D033661:Oocysts / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D000930:Antidiarrheals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Cryptosporidium parvum; concentrated pomegranate extract; cryptosporidiosis; neonatal diarrhea; tannins