Vol. 11, Special Issue 7 (2022)

Author(s):
Sateesh AG, Patil NA, Vivek R Kasaralikar, Dilipkumar D, Basavaraj Awati, Ravindra BG and Shrikant Kulkarni

Abstract:
The present study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence, and assessment of risk factors associated with cryptosporidiosis in 205 calves. The selected calves were aged between 0-12 months and signalment data and clinical signs of calves were recorded along with epidemiological factors. Fecal samples examined by mZN staining method, revealed a overall prevalence of 14.63 per cent. Age-wise point prevalence of 60.00 per cent indicated that highest susceptible calves were younger age group however, there was decline in the positivity percentage as age advances. Seasonally, highest point prevalence was noticed in the rainy (50.00%) season than winter and summer. Sex-wise prevalence revealed, female calves had higher prevalence than male calves however the difference was statistically nonsignificant. Most of the diarrhoeic calves had watery consistency (Grade-3, 70.00%) among the affected calves. The organised dairy calves had higher point prevalence (70.00%) when compared unorganised dairy farms (30.00%). Diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis was done by microscopic examinations in present study. Direct smear examination revealed 5.37 per cent positivity (11/205) for Cryptosporidium oocysts. Thirty (14.63%) fecal samples were positive for cryptosporidiosis by modified Ziehl-Neelsen (mZN) staining method whereas, safranin methylene blue staining method detected 29 (13.66%) positive samples. The most reliable and cost-effective method for detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts was modified ZN staining method than any other staining method.