Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The prevalence of Cryptosporidium species in diarrhoeic lambs in Kars province and potential risk factors

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium species in diarrhoeic lambs and investigate some risk factors in Kars province (Northeastern region of Anatolia) in Turkey. Four hundred faecal samples were taken from the rectums of clinically diarrhoeic and aged to 1-month-old lambs from 34 sheep farms in 20 villages in March-April 2007 and examined by using the modified acid-fast staining technique. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium species was found as 38.8% (155/400). Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 90.0% (18/20) of villages and in 76.5% (26/34) of the sheep farms. Infection rates were detected as: 44.4% (67/151) in 1-week-old lambs, 37.5% (39/104) in 2-week-old lambs, 40.0% (38/95) in 3-week-old lambs, and 22.0% (11/50) in 4-week-old lambs. Farms classified according to their zoohygienic conditions and fine, average and bad conditioned farms were contaminated with Cryptosporidium with the percentages of 14.7%, 20.6% and 41.2%, respectively. Clinical cryptosporidiosis was determined in 35.0% of the villages (7/20) and in 29.4% of the sheep farms (10/34), Cryptosporidium oocysts were found in 81.3% of the lambs (91/112) in these farms. Cryptosporidiosis may be a major epidemiological significance in lambs in Kars province, and suggests that naturally infected lambs may be reservoirs of Cryptosporidiosis infections for calves even for humans too.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Angus, K.W., Appleyard, W.T., Menzies, J.D., Campbell, I. & Sherwood, D. 1982. An outbreak of diarrhoea associated with cryptosporidiosis in naturally reared lambs. Veterinary Record, 110, 129–130

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arslan, M.O., Gicik, Y., Erdogan, H.M. & Sari, B. 2001. Prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in diarrhoeic calves in Kars Province, Turkey. Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Science, 25, 161–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Arslan, M.O., Erdogan, H.M. & Tanriverdi, S. 2003. Neonatal buzagilarda cryptosporidiosis’in epidemiyolojisi. 13. Ulusal Parazitoloji Kongresi Program ve Ozet Kitabi, SB 6–01, 186 pp, Konya

  • Barker I.K. & Carbonell P.L. 1974. Cryptosporidium agni sp. n. from lambs, and Cryptosporidium bovis sp. n. from a calf, with observations on the oocyst. Parasitology Research, 44(4), 289–298 doi:10.1007/BF00366112

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brook, E., Hart, C.A., French, N. & Christley, R. 2008 Prevalence and risk factors for Cryptosporidium spp. infection in young calves. Veterinary Parasitology, 152, 46–52 doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.12.003

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Castro-Hermida, J.A., Gonzales-Losada, Y.A. & Ares-Mazas, E. 2002 Prevalence of and risk factors involved in the spread of neonatal bovine cryptosporidiosis in Galicia (NW Spain). Veterinary Parasitology, 106, 1–10 doi:10.1016/S0304-4017(02)00036-5

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Causape, A.C., Quilez, J., Sanchez-Acedo, C., Del Cacho, E. & Lopez-Bernad F. 2002. Prevalence and analysis of potential risk factors for Cryptosporidium parvum infection in lambs in Zaragoza (Northeastern Spain). Veterinary Parasitology, 104, 287–298 doi:10.1016/S0304-4017(01)00639-2

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Graaf, D.C., Vanopdenbosch, E., Ortega-Mora, L.M., Abbasi, H. & Peeters J.E. 1999. A review of the importance of cryptosporidiosis in farm animals. International Journal for Parasitology, 29, 1269–1287 doi:10.1016/S0020-7519(99)00076-4

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Delafosse, A., Castro-Hermida, J.A., Baudry, C., Ares-Mazas, E. & Chartier C. 2006. Herd-level risk factors for Cryptosporidium infection in dairy-goat kids in western France. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 77, 109–121 doi:10.1016/j.prevetmed.2006.07.001

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dubey, J.P., Speer, C.A. & Fayer R. 1990. Cryptosporidiosis of Man and Animals. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebeid, M., Mathis, A., Pospischil, A. & Deplazes, P. 2003. Infectivity of Cryptosporidium parvum genotype I in conventionally reared piglets and lambs. Parasitology Research, 90(3), 232–235.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El-Khodery, S.A. & Osman, S.A. 2008. Cryptosporidiosis in buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis): Prevalence and potential risk factors. Tropical Animal and Health Production, 40(6), 419–426 doi:10.1007/s11250-007-9113-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erman, N., Beyazit, A. & Oz I. 2000. Prevelance of cryptosporidiosis in lambs and goat kids in Izmir province. Bornova Veteriner Kontrol Arastirma Enstitusu Mudurlugu Dergisi, 25, 33–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Fayer, R. 2004. Cryptosporidium: a water-borne zoonotic parasite. Veterinary Parasitology, 126, 37–56 doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2004.09.004

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goma, F.Y., Geurden, T., Siwila, J., Phiri, I.G.K., Gabriel, S., Claerebout, E. & Vercruysse J 2007. The prevalence and molecular characterisation of Cryptosporidium spp. in small ruminants in Zambia. Small Ruminant Research, 72, 77–80 doi:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2006.08.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Handemir, E., Gozun, H. & Kamburgil, K. 1999. Konya Bolgesi koyunlarinda cryptosporidiosis. Turkiye Parazitoloji Dergisi, 23(3), 312–316

    Google Scholar 

  • Huber, F., Da Silva, S., Bomfim, T.C.B., Teixeira, K.R.S. & Bello, A.R. 2007. Genotypic characterization and phylogenetic analysis of Cryptosporidium sp. from domestic animals in Brazil. Veterinary Parasitology, 150, 65–74 doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.08.018

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Levine, N.D. 1985. Veterinary Protoozoology. First edition. Iowa State Univ Pres Ames

  • Majewska, A.C., Werner, A., Sulima, P. & Luty, T. 2000. Prevalence of Cryptosporidium in sheep and goats bred on five farms in westcentral region of Poland. Veterinary Parasitology, 89, 269–275 doi:10.1016/S0304-4017(00)00212-0

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maldonado-Camargo, S., Atwill, E.R., Saltijeral-Oaxaca, J.A. & Herrera-Alonso, L.C. 1998. Prevalence of and risk factors for shedding of Cryptosporidium parvum in Holstein Fresian dairy calves in central Mexico. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 36, 95–107 doi:10.1016/S0167-5877(98)00084-1

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matos-Fernandez, M.J., Pereira-Bueno, J., Ortega-Mora, L.M., Pilar-Izquerdo, M., Fere, I. & Roje-Vazquez, F.A. 1993. Prevalencia de la infeccion por Cryptosporidium parvum en corderos, cabritos y terneros en la provincia de Leon. Acta Parasitologica, 1, 211

    Google Scholar 

  • Misic, Z., Katic-Radivojevic, S. & Kulisic, Z. 2006. Cryptosporidium infection in lambs and goat kids in Serbia. Acta Veterinaria Beograd, 56(1), 49–54 doi:10.2298/AVB0601049M

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mueller-Doblies, D., Giles, M., Elwin, K., Smith, R.P., Clifton-Hadley, F.A. & Chalmers, R.M. 2008. Distribution of Cryptosporidium species in sheep in the UK. Veterinary Parasitology, 154, 214–219. doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2008.03.021

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Munoz, M., Alverez, M., Lanza, I. & Carmenes, P. 1996. Role of enteric pathogens in the aetiology of neonatal diarrhoea in lambs and goat kids in Spain. Epidemiology Infection, 117, 203–211

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Navarro-i-Martinez, L., da Silva, A.J., Bornay-Llinares, F.J., Moura, I.N.S., del Aguila, C., Oleaga, A. & Pieniazek, N.J. 2007. Detection and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium bovis-like isolate from a newborn lamb in Spain. Journal of Parasitology, 93(6), 1536–1538 doi:10.1645/GE-1116.1

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nouri, M. & Karami, M. 1991. Asyptomatic cryptosporidiosis in nomadic shepherds and their sheep. Journal of Infection, 23(3), 331–333 doi:10.1016/0163-4453(91)93260-J

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ok, U.Z., Girginkardesler, N., Kilimcioglu, A. & Limoncu, E. 1997. Diski inceleme yontemleri. Ozcel, M.A. and Altintas, N. (Editors). Parazit Hastaliklarinda Tani. T Parazitol Dern Yay, Bornova-Izmir, Ege Universitesi Basimevi, 1-61 pp

  • Olson, M.E., Thorlakson, C.L., Deselliers, L., Morck, D.W. & McAllister, T.A. 1997. Giardia and Cryptosporidium in Canadian farm animals. Veterinary Parasitology, 68, 375–381 doi:10.1016/S0304-4017(96)01072-2

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ortega-Mora, L.M., Requejo-Fernandez, J.A., Pilar-Izquierdo, M. & Pereira-Bueno J 1999. Role of adult sheep in transmission of infection by Cryptosporidium parvum to lambs: confirmation of periparturient rise. International Journal for Parasitology, 29, 1261–1268 doi:10.1016/S0020-7519(99)00077-6

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ozer, E., Erdogmus, S.Z. & Koroglu, E. 1990. Investigation on the incidence of Cryptosporidia of calves and lambs in Elazig vicinity. Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Science, 14, 439–445

    Google Scholar 

  • Ozmen, O., Yukari, B.A., Haligur, M. & Sahinduran, S. 2006. Observations and immunohistochemical detection of Coronavirus, Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia intestinalis in neonatal diarrhoea in lambs and kids. Schweizer Archiv fur Tierheilkunde, 148(7), 357–364 doi:10.1024/0036-7281.148.7.357

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramirez, N.E., Ward, L.A. & Sreevatsan, S. 2004. A review of the biology and epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis in humans and animals. Microbes and Infection, 6, 773–785 doi:10.1016/j.micinf.2004.02.021

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, U.M., Bath, C., Robertson, I., Read, C., Eliot, A., Mcinnes, L., Traub, R. & Besier B. 2005. Sheep may not be an important zoonotic reservoir for Cryptosporidium and Giardia parasites. Aplied and Environmental Microbiology, 71(9), 4992–4997 doi:10.1128/AEM.71.9.4992-4997.2005

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sahal, M., Karaer, Z., Yasa Duru, S., Cizmeci, S. & Tanyel, B. 2005. Cryptosporidiosis in newborn calves in Ankara region: clinical, haematological findings and treatment with Lasalocid-NA. Deutsche Tierarztliche Wochenschrift, 112(6), 203–208

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Santin, M., Trout, J.M. & Fayer, R. 2007. Prevalence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium and Giardia species and genotypes in sheep in Maryland. Veterinary Parasitology, 146, 17–24 doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.01.010

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sevinc, F., Uslu, U. & Derinbay, O. 2005. The Prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum in lambs around Konya. Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Science, 29, 1191–1194

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, H.V., Caccio, S.M., Cook, N., Nichols, R.A.B. & Tait, A. 2007. Cryptosporidium and Giardia as foodborne zoonoses. Veterinary Parasitology, 149, 29–40. doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.07.015

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soltane, R., Guyot, K., Dei-Cas, E. & Ayadi, A. 2007. Prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. (Eucoccidiorida:Cryptosporiidae) in seven species of farm animals in Tunisia. Parasite, 14(4), 335–338

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tembue, A.A.M., Alves, L.C., Borges, J.C.G., Faustino, M.A.da G. & Machado, E.L.deC. 2006. Cryptosporidium spp. in sheep in Ibimirim District, Pernambuco State, Brazil. Ciencia Veterinaria nos Tropicos, 9(1), 41–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, R.C.A., Olson, M.E., Zhu, G., Enomoto, S., Abrahamsen, M.S. & Hijjawi, N.S. 2005. Cryptosporidium and Cryptosporidiosis. Advances in Parasitology, 59, 77–158 doi:10.1016/S0065-308X(05)59002-X

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ulutas, B. & Voyvoda, H. 2004. Cryptosporidiosis in diarrhoeic lambs on a sheep farm. Turkiye Parazitoloji Dergisi, 28(1), 15–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao, L., Herd, R.P. & McClure, K.E. 1994. Peripartiurent rise in the excretion of Giardia sp. cysts and Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts as a source of infection for lambs. Journal of Parasitology, 80, 55–59. doi:10.2307/3283345

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Kafkas University, 36100, Kars, Turkey

    Barış Sari, Mükremin Özkan Arslan, Yunus Gicik, Murat Kara & Gencay Taşkın Taşçi

Authors
  1. Barış Sari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mükremin Özkan Arslan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yunus Gicik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Murat Kara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Gencay Taşkın Taşçi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Murat Kara.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sari, B., Arslan, M.Ö., Gicik, Y. et al. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium species in diarrhoeic lambs in Kars province and potential risk factors. Trop Anim Health Prod 41, 819–826 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-008-9260-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-008-9260-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation