PREVALENCE AND INCIDENCE OF Cryptosporidium spp. IN CALVES FROM THE CENTRAL REGION OF VERACRUZ, MEXICO

Abstract

In order to determine the prevalence and incidence of Cryptosporidium spp. in bovine production units (BPU) located in the central area of Veracruz, Mexico, 272 grazing dual-purpose calves from 13 BPU were studied. Fecal samples were collected from each of all the calves, and were examined following the Kinyoun technique. Of the 13 BPU included, in “El Clarin†and “La Soledad†samples were collected every two weeks to determine the incidence of calves positive to Cryptosporidium spp. The Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were microscopically identified. Overall prevalence was 35.7 % with a confidence interval at 95 % of 30.0 to 41.4 %. No significant differences were found between male and female calves. The prevalence was higher in calves younger than 4 months old (42.9 %) than in calves older than 4 months old (28 %) (P = 0.01). The incidence was 170 and 100 new cases for each 1000 calf-day at risk in "El Clarin" and "La Soledad", respectively. In conclusion, Cryptosporidium is a prevalent parasite in BPU of the central region of Veracruz and it has a high incidence.