Prevalence of Cryptosporidium Species in goats of namakkal, Tamil Nadu

A study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in goats in Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu. From September 2017 to June 2018, a total of 240 faecal samples from goats were screened by direct faecal smear staining (DFSS), Sheather's sucrose flotation technique (SSFT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Out of 240 samples screened, 35 (14.5%) and 60 (25.0%) samples were detected positive by DFSS and PCR, respectively while SSFT did not detect any sample as positive. Cryptosporidium parvum and C. xiaoi were recorded in 56.6 and 23.3% of the samples detected positive, respectively. Mixed infection was observed in 20.1% of the samples. It could be concluded that Cryptosporidium infection in goats is low to moderate in the study area.