Cryptosporidiosis in birds ‐ A review

Abstract

SUMMARYThe taxonomy, morphology and life cycle, host species, incidence, pathology, transmission, immunity, diagnosis and control of cryptosporidiosis in birds are reviewed.

Natural infections byCryptosporidiumsp. in farm‐raised ducks and geese

“…The own results confirm the data published by Goodwin (1989), Lindsay et al (1989) and Lindsay & Blagburn (1990) that Cryptosporidium spp. are obviously common parasites in young commercial waterfowl.…”

“…in waterfowl (Proctor & Kemp, 1974;Tsai et al, 1983;Lía et al, 1984;Mason, 1986;Zwart, 1987;O'Donoghue et al, 1987;Lindsay et al, 1989;Kozakiewicz & Palkovic, 1989). The parasite colonizes the respiratory and intestinal tracts, but also the bursa of Fabricius (Tzipori, 1983;O'Donoghue, 1985;Pohlenz, 1987;Ley et al, 1987;Goodwin, 1989). Oocysts are mainly excreted with faeces.…”

Cryptosporidium spp. in bursa of Fabricius of broiler chickens from Uruguay

“…Additionally, the specifi city of parasite location in epithelial bursal cells, suggests that C. baileyi is the species involved in affected animals. Previous reports indicate that it is the best location to fi nd C. bailey in broiler chickens (FLETCHER et al, 1975;GOODWIN, 1989;SURUMAY et al, 1996;JACOBSEN et al, 2006;MC DOUGALD et al, 2008).…”

“…In birds, cryptosporidiosis is one of the most prevalent parasitic infections in more than 30 domestic and wild bird species, and can be found in the digestive and respiratory tracts and in the bursa of Fabricius of affected animals. The three most important pathogenic species in birds are: Cryptosporidium baileyi, C. meleagridis, and C. galli (GOODWIN, 1989;SRÉTER & VARGA, 2000;MENG et al, 2011); in broiler chickens and laying hens, cryptosporidiosis was mainly associated with C. baileyi (GOODWIN, 1989;SRÉTER & VARGA, 2000;TRAMPEL et al, 2000), and some Cryptosporidia -like C. meleagridis-are potentially zoonotic, thus being important in human public health (CHENG et al, 2002;MENG et al, 2011).…”

“…According to GOODWIN (1989), the haematoxylin and eosin-staining of tissue sections is a sensitive method for the identifi cation of the parasites. Additionally, the specifi city of parasite location in epithelial bursal cells, suggests that C. baileyi is the species involved in affected animals.…”