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Frointers in veterinary science
Frointers Media S.A.
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Abstract: |
Details about the epidemiological patterns and real contributions of different reservoir
animals in maintaining the transmission cycle of Cryptosporidium spp. in Upper
Egypt remain lacking. This study was designed to investigate the occurrence of
Cryptosporidium spp. in cattle and buffalo (n = 608) from Upper Egypt. The parasite
for the resulting positive samples by fecal examination was molecularly identified using
nested PCR targeting the small subunit rRNA. Moreover, several explanatory variables,
including animals’ age, sex, condition, seasonal variations, were examined to describe
the epidemiological pattern of the disease. Interestingly, the fecal examination revealed
that 33.55% (204/608) of the animals under study were infected with Cryptosporidium,
including 38.27%among cattle and 28.16%among buffalo. The parasite wasmolecularly
identified using nested PCR, and their amplicons were identified in almost all fecal
samples using microscopy (202/204). According to age as an individual variable factor,
the infection rates of Cryptosporidium spp. in cattle calves with ages of <1, 1–3, and >3
months were 39.13, 34.04, and 54.54%, respectively. Meanwhile, in buffalo calves, the
occurrence rates were 28.57, 27.27, and 29.41%, respectively. Regarding sex, female
cattle calves were more susceptible to Cryptosporidium infection (51.28%) than males
(26.19%) (p < 0.05), whereas male buffalo calves had a higher infection rate (32.25%)
than females (25%). According to seasonal variations, the infection rates of
Cryptosporidium spp. in cattle calves during spring, summer, autumn, and winter were
42.11, 30.43, 30, and 52.63%, respectively. In contrast, lower infection rates of 30,
21.42, 23.52, and 35% were reported in buffalo calves during spring, summer, autumn,
and winter, respectively. The rate of infection was 45.16% in diarrheic cattle calves and
15.78% in non-diarrheic ones (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the infection rate was 33.96% in
diarrheic buffalo calves and 11.11%in non-diarrheic ones (p < 0.05). This study reported
a higher occurrence of Cryptosporidium infection among the animals under study and
revealed that buffalos and cattle can contribute to maintaining the transmission cycle of
this zoonotic parasite in Upper Egypt.
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