**7.1 Etiology**

Cryptosporidium are protozoan parasite with at least 13 species occuring in mammals, birds, and fish, but only 2 of these species are important in livestock animals (Taylor et al., 2007; Radostits et al., 2008). Cryptosporidium spp. are intracelluler protozoan parasites causing gastrointestinal disease and diarrhea, and they are important infection in young ruminants.

The list of cryptosporium specie is shown in table 8.


Table 8. Cryptosporidia species

Coccidiosis in lambs is widely similar to that in calves, but dysentery do not usually ocur. In infected kids clinical signs are associated with watery diarrhea, dehydration, anorexia, and

Diagnosis is based on history, clinical and necropsy findings, and microscopic examination of feces. Acute coccidiosis can be diagnosed by direct examination of feces but in chronic coccidiosis that very low oocysts number are seen in feces, direct examination of feces may

Coccidiostats drugs are used for treatment. All animals in the flock should be treated. Trimetoprim+Sulfadoxine (16-24 mg/kg) can be used for three days by intramuscularly in lambs and kids (Ozmen et al., 2004). Amprolium (10 mg/kg BW) for 5 days or 65 mg/kg BW one dose can be effective in calves (Radostits et al., 2008). Diclazuril and toltrazuril are also coccidiocidal drugs (Matthews, 2009). Ghanem et al., (2008), suggested that toltrazuril is more effective than sulphadimine and amprolium in E. Bbovis and E. zuernii oocysts

Because of the low serum vitamin C levels in lambs with coccidiosis, administration of vitamin C is suggested to be useful combined with the classical treatment (Sahinduran et

Hygiene in the house, minimisation of predisposing factors, avoiding the overcrowding of animals in the pens, control of the pastures for parasite are important factors for the control

Cryptosporidium are protozoan parasite with at least 13 species occuring in mammals, birds, and fish, but only 2 of these species are important in livestock animals (Taylor et al., 2007; Radostits et al., 2008). Cryptosporidium spp. are intracelluler protozoan parasites causing gastrointestinal disease and diarrhea, and they are important infection in young

Cryptosporidium parvum Small intestine Cattle, sheep, goats, deer, man

weight loss (Ballweber, 2009).

**6.6 Treatment and control** 

shedding in buffalo calves.

al., 2006).

of coccidiosis.

**7.1 Etiology** 

ruminants.

**7. Cryptosporidiosis** 

Table 8. Cryptosporidia species

The list of cryptosporium specie is shown in table 8.

**Specie Affinity site Hosts** 

Cryptosporidium andersoni Abomasum Cattle

not be adequate (Navarre and Pugh, 2002).

**6.5 Diagnosis** 

Fig. 8. Cryptosporidium spp. oocyst, calve, carbol- fuchsin staining, 40X

### **7.2 Epidemiology**

Cryptosporidiosis occur primarily in neonatal calves, but also in lambs and kids (Radostits et al., 2008). One major species, C. Parvum, infects both farm animals and humans (Jones et al., 1997). Cryptosporidiosis is a fairly prevalent disease in many countries, and the disease is one of the most economically important diseases especially in calves and kids in Turkey (Sevinc, 2004). Calves at 1-15 days are at the highest risk (El- Khodery and Osman, 2008). The higher percentage of oocysts excreted is observed in 7-day-old calves (Feitosa et al., 2008). Animals of all ages can be infected, but diarrhea occur only in young animals (Gunn et al., 2009). In young calves there is a significant relationship between season and infection (El- Khodery and Osman, 2008). Infection peaks occur in spring and autumn (Taylor et al., 2007). Castro-Hermida et al.,(2007), suggested that asymptomatic adult sheep and goats are the source of environmental contamination by C. Parvum.
