Apicomplexans in Goat: Prevalence of Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium spp., Eimeria spp. and Risk Factors in Farms from Ecuador

Abstract

Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium and Eimeria cause severe impacts on the productivity of goat herds. The objectives of the present study were to establish the prevalence of these apicomplexans in goat farms from Ecuador; to evaluate a rapid test for Cryptosporidium diagnosis and to identify the risk factors associated with the infections. A questionnaire was designed to obtain information from 24 goat farms from Zapotillo, Garza Real, Cazaderos, Limones and Paletillas parishes in Ecuador. Blood (n = 388) and feces (n = 391) samples were collected. Indirect ELISA and standard parasitological assays were carried out to evaluate the seroprevalence of N. caninum and T. gondii and to detect oocysts of Cryptosporidium and Eimeria. The overall prevalence values of N. caninum and T. gondii were 12.11% and 18.20%, Cryptosporidium spp. and Eimeria spp. oocysts were detected in 10.49% and 89.51% of the total samples. A low correlation value was found between the results obtained by Ziehl-Nielsen and the rapid test. The multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that vitamin supplementation, age of diarrhea, frequency of deworming, pasture area, presence of artiodactyls, domestic fowl, administration of sulfas, age group, body condition, abortions, type of pastures and the presence of cattle were risk factors according to the parasite species.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Coccidiosis in Goats in Slaughter Center, Manokwari Regency, West Papua Province, Indonesia: Epidemiological Aspects

“…infections. A similar incidence of 89.51, 86.58, and 92.7%, were identified in lambs from farms in Ecuador, the states of Rio Grande do Sul of Brazil, and Northern Greece respectively, in earlier investigations (Saratsis et al 2011;Celi et al 2022;Martins et al 2022). According to studies done around the world, the prevalence of Eimeria infection ranges from 56.2% in Algeria to 93.2% in Ubate-Colombia (Pulido-Medellín et al 2020; Meradi and Bentounsi 2021).…”

“…The variation in prevalence is influenced by several variables, such as the climate and management practices, such as weaning, feed changes, transportation, and stress (Carrau et al 2018), vitamin supplementation, pasture area, presence of artiodactyls and cattle, and domestic fowl (Celi et al 2022). It is possible for environmental factors (such as management and management practices) or animal factors (such as genetic and immunological status) to worsen coccidia infection rates and even occur in extensive systems (Chartier and Paraud 2012).…”

Molecular Detection of Cryptosporidium spp. and Microsporidia in Human and Animal Stool Samples

“…The prevalence of this microorganism in goats is high, as was revealed in a study carried out in Ecuador where 10.49% of the goats were infected by Cryptosporidium spp. [22]. A similar study described a prevalence of 14.3% (1/7) in different farms located in northern Spain (Galicia) [23].…”

Molecular detection of Cryptosporidium spp. and Microsporidia in human and animal stool samples

“…The prevalence of this microorganism in goats is high, such as revealed a study carried out in Ecuador, where the 10.49% of the goats were infected by Cryptosporidium spp. [22]. A similar study described a prevalence of 14.3% (1/7) in different farms located in the north of Spain (Galicia) [23].…”