Prevalence, risk factors and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium infection in cattle in Addis Ababa and its environs, Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors of Cryptosporidium infection and identify species of the parasite in cattle in central Ethiopia. Faecal samples, collected from 392 dairy cattle managed under intensive and extensive production system, were analyzed by the Modified Ziehl-Neelsen (MZN) microscopy, Nested PCR, PCR-RFLP and sequence analyses of the SSU rRNA gene of Cryptosporidium. The overall prevalence, the prevalence in the extensive and intensive farms was 18.6%, 11% and 21%, respectively. The infection was detected in 37.7% of the investigated farms with prevalence range of 7.4% -100%, and all of the six surveyed districts with significant (P = 0.000) prevalence difference. Restriction digestion and sequence analysis showed Cryptosporidium parvum and C. andersoni in 27% and 73% of the infections, respectively, showing an age related distribution pattern, C. parvum exclusively occurring in calves <2 months old and C. andersoni only in heifers and adult cattle. The infection was significantly associated with management system, farm location, herd size, source of drinking water, weaning age, presence of bedding, pen cleanness and cleanness of hindquarter. In conclusion, Cryptosporidium infection due to C. parvum and C. andersoni was prevalent in cattle in the study area. Cryptosporidium parvum has the concern of public health importance, especially to farm workers and people in close contact with cattle. Instigation of imperative control measure is suggested to lessen the risk of human infection and loss of production in dairy farms.

Cryptosporidium Infection and Associated Risk Factors among Cattle in the Central Region of Ghana

“…In the Ogun state of Nigeria, one study involving the detection of Cryptosporidium coproantigens recorded a higher prevalence of 37.5% [ 27 ] than the present study. The prevalence rate for the current study was however higher than a similar study in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which reported a rate of 18.6% using both modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining and molecular techniques [ 22 ]. A study in Aizawl district in India using both modified Ziehl-Neelsen and molecular detection [ 35 ] and one other in Malaysia peninsular using only molecular detection method for Cryptosporidium [ 15 ] also recorded rates of 13% and 12.5%, respectively, which were lower compared to the present study.…”

“…There are many reports of Cryptosporidium infections in livestock such as cattle worldwide [ 22 – 25 ]. In neighbouring Nigeria in the West African region, several studies of Cryptosporidium infections in cattle have been conducted [ 26 – 28 ].…”

“…Cattle rearing in Ghana is done mainly by extensive and semi-intensive management systems which allow the animals to graze on natural pastures bringing them into close contact with farmland and water bodies [ 16 ]. Infective oocysts passed in the faeces of these animals contribute significantly to the contamination of the environment with potential for further transmission to other animals and humans [ 22 , 31 ]. Despite the immense public health and veterinary importance of this parasite, there is limited data on the prevalence and risk factors for its infection across the Central Region of Ghana.…”

Prevalence and molecular identification of Cryptosporidium spp in cattle in Baghdad province, Iraq

“…This finding was comparable with the results of Benhouda et al (15) whom recorded infection rate 40% in young calves in Algeria and the 35.5% were recorded in diarrheic calves in Sudan (16). However, the prevalence was higher than the 14.4% infection prevalence reported from dairy farms in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Area in China (7), 17.0% reported from cattle tested in Poland (17) and 18.6% in cattle in Ethiopia (18). On the other hand, the infection rate was lower than the 42.85% reported in calves in Kut city (19), 47.68% in pre-weaned dairy calves in Northeastern China (3) and 52.2% in neonatal calves in Algeria (20).…”

Molecular detection of Cryptosporidium parvum in chicken in Al-Diwaniya province

“…Infection of Cryptosporidium spp. causes inflammation in the mucosal tissues, associated with great numbers of macrophages and neutrophils in the infected tissue (9). Diagnosis of Cryptosporidium spp.…”