PREVALENCE OF Cryptosporidium spp. AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN FEMALE CALVES IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF VERACRUZ, MEXICO

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and its associated risk factors in female calves in central Veracruz, Mexico. A cross-sectional study with a convenience sampling was conducted. One fecal sample was obtained from each of 120 female calves. The lateral flow immunochromatographic (LFIC) and the Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) tests were performed. A questionnaire was applied in each farm to obtain individual and herd information. Overall prevalence was 3.33% (CI95% 1-8) through LFIC and 12.50% (CI95% 8-20) through ZN. Prevalence by municipality was 0 to 9.1% (CI95% 0.03-0.24) through LFIC and 0 to 30.43% (CI95% 16-51) through ZN. Prevalence by age was 0% at 31-45 days and 9.10% at 1-15 days through LFIC, and 0% at 31-45 days and 18.8% at 1-15 days through ZN. The calves with diarrhea had the highest prevalence, which was 14.3% (CI95% 3-51) through LFIC and 57.1% (CI95% 25-84) through ZN. The protective factors were calves housed in individual stalls, compared with those in common stalls but separated one from the other (OR=0.27; 0.09-0.85, P<0.04), as well as calves that ingested colostrum 30 to 60 min after birth, compared with those that ingested colostrum 2 to 3 h after birth (OR=0.22; 0.05-0.87, P<0.04). In conclusion, Cryptosporidium spp. was present in the suckling female calves from the farms surveyed, and the protective factors should be considered when establishing a program for controlling diarrhea in calves.