A study was carried out to survey the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in cattle in Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria. A total of four hundred (400) fecal samples from cattle were randomly collected and examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts using the modified Ziehl-Neelsen (MZN) staining method. The results showed that the overall prevalence of infection was 22.3%, with an infection rate of23.4% in adult cattle and 19.1% in young cattle, respectively. There was no statistical significant difference (P<0.05) between the age groups, with (OR: 1.298; 95%CI: 0.7507-2.245). Out of 89 positive samples, 21.2% were male and 25.0% were female, respectively. There was no statistical significant difference (P>0.05) between the sex, with (OR: 0.8062; 95% CI: 0.4828-0.346). It was concluded that Cryptosporidium sp. infection is prevalent in Nigeria; and cattle could serve as reservoirs for the zoonotic infection in humans.

Rotavirus (RV) is a major etiological agent of acute infantile gastroenteritis and is associated with 20%-25% of diarrhoea cases in infants. Nigeria continues to be among the first five countries with greatest number of RV disease associated deaths per year. From September 2013-August 2014, 467 stool samples were collected from children under 5 years of age in Kaduna State, Nigeria and analysed for RV antigen using ELISA. An overall RV prevalence of 31.0% (143/467) was obtained with the infection occurring throughout the study period. Children from KachiaLGA had the highest prevalence of 53.8% (28/52), while children from Kagarko LGA had the lowest prevalence of 21.0% (10/74). The difference was significant (P=0.019). Highest prevalence of RV was recorded in March (75.0%:3/4) and the least in July (11.5%:3/26) with significant difference (P=0.003). Female children had highest prevalence of 32.1% (79/246) compared to male children (29.9%:66/221) with a non-significance difference (P=0.530). Children within 25-36 months had the highest prevalence of 36.4% (28/77), while children 49-60 months had the lowest prevalence of 17.6% (6/34) with no significant difference (P=0.517). The difference observed was not significant (P=0.477) , fever, dehydration (P>0.05). The study has revealed that rotavirus remains an important cause of acute diarrhoea in children under five years in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Hence the need for the implemention of the vaccines into the childhood immunization programme in the country. . The result showed no significant difference between the presence of RV infection with vomiting

INTRODUCTION Rotaviruses are enteric pathogens causing acute, watery, dehydrating diarrhoea in various host species, including birds and mammals. Rotavirus is the cause for approximately 500,000 child deaths yearly, mainly in developing countries (Rajendran and Kang, 2014). The virus is the single most important cause of infectious, severe, dehydrating diarrhoea and death worldwide in children less than 5 years (Pennap and Umoh, 2010). Rotavirus gastroenteritis is a mild to severe disease, with incubation period of abo days. The symptoms often starts with fever, nausea, and vomiting, followed by abdominal cramps and frequent watery diarrhea, which may last for 3-8 days. Infected children may also have a cough and runny nose. al., 2011) Bovine rotaviruses are important causative agents of neonatal calf diarrhoea throughout the world, and rotavirus infection is a significant cause of economic loss in the cattle ABSTRACT Rotaviruses are enteric pathogens causing acute, watery, dehydrating diarrhoea in various host species, including birds and mammals. A total of 716 diarrhoeic stool samples were collected comprising of 249 from calves and 467 from children within Kaduna State Nigeria. Rotavirus antigen was detected in the stools of calves by NSP3 Real-Time Reverse Transcription detected in children using Enzyme Linked Immunosobent Assay (ELISA). Rotavirus was detected in 34 of the 249 stool sample from calves (13.7%). The infection was higher in males (15.7%:16/102) compared to females calves (12.3%: 11/147). The highest number of cases was detected among calves 2 the result showed no significant difference between rotavirus infection in calves with mode of feeding and presence of other animals in the farm (p>0.05). There was significant difference between rotavirus infection and sanitation on farm and source of water for calves (p<0.05). An overall RV prevalence of 31.0% (143/467) was obtained in children. The infection was higher in females (32.1%:79/246) compared to males (29.9%:66/221). The highest burden was detected in children 25 (36.4%:22/77). There was no significant association between boiling of drinking water, attendance of day care and playing with toys prevalence of rotavirus (P> important cause of acute diarrhoea among calves and children in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Hence the need for improvement in sanitation and the implemention of the vaccines into the childhood immunization programme.