Parasitological Prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in calves, chickens and human in Behera province

Abstract

Cryptosporidium is a cosmopolitan intestinal protozoan parasite that belongs to the phylum Apicomplexa and infects a broad range of vertebrate hosts including livestock, human and birds. This current study was aimed to investigate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp.infection in young calves, human and chickens, in five districts covering five different geographical locations of the Behera province. In doing this, a total number of 310 faecal samples from calves (n= 148), human being (n=112) and chicken (n=50) were collected, stained using the modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining method, and were examined microscopically for Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts. Correlations between prevalence rates and related parameters such as species, age, gender and faecal consistencies were also analyzed. Results indicated that 43.2%, 16.1% and 6%, of calves, human and chicken, were found infected with Cryptosporidium spp., respectively. Statistically significant variable rates of infection were also detected across six surveyed districts of the Behera governorate, with the notable absence of infection from chicken in Abo Hummus and Rahmaneyah districts. Statistically significant variable rates of infection were also characterized in calves when species, age, sex, and faecal consistency were analyzed; buffalo >4 weeks calves, male and calves with formed faeces have higher infection rates than their counterparts of cattle Cryptosporidium spp. in the livestock and chicken living in close proximity to human population necessitates better surveillance and control measures to protect vulnerable animal and human populations.