Cryptosporidiosis of calves in a private farmstead on the territory of different districts of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic

Cryptosporidiosis is a widespread parasitic (protozoal) disease. to which more than 170 species of animals are susceptible. Purpose of the study. To study the spread of cryptosporidiosis of calves in the conditions of private farmsteads in some areas on the territory of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. Materials and methods. Fecal samples from 55 calves (clinically healthy and sick, with signs of diarrhea) aged 3 to 50 days were examined for the presence of the causative agent of cryptosporidiosis using the native smear method. The finished smears were fixed according to the Nikiforov method, stained with carbolic fuchsin according to Ziehl–Neelsen and examined under a binocular light microscope «Micromed-3» with an immersion lens. Cryptosporidium oocysts acquire a rich pink-red color when stained by Ziehl–Neelsen. The final diagnosis was established based on the detection of oocysts characteristic of this invasion. Cryptosporidium was identified using the «Determinant of parasitic protozoa» of Krylov M.V. and the atlas of Vershinin I.I. Results of the study. Microscopy of smears of faecal samples from 55 calves revealed cryptosporidium oocysts in 29 smears, thus, the extent of invasion (EI) was 52.7 %.