Parasitological detection and associated risk factors of Cryptosporidium in bovines of Karnataka state

The prevalence of Cryptosporidium in cattle and buffalo calves of less than one month age was studied in Karnataka state using modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining method. Associated risk factors viz., age, sex, breed, consistency of dung, rearing systems and season were evaluated for their influence on the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection. An overall prevalence of 12.20% (40/328) of Cryptosporidium infection was observed with a prevalence rate of 12.84% in cattle calves and 10.91% in buffalo calves. Age wise, three week-old animals were infected more (16.95%) followed by the four week (13.27%), one week (6.90%) and two week (4.41%) old animals. Female animals (13.14%) showed more prevalence than male animals (11.11%). Among the breeds, crossbred animals (15.08%) were infected more compared to non-descript animals (7.75%). Higher prevalence of infection was noticed in diarrhoeic samples (16.41%) followed by formed (10.31%) and semisolid dung samples (7.77%). Rearing system was correlated for its effect on its prevalence rate, in which the free-range animals (12.61%) had a slightly higher prevalence than that of intensively reared animals (11.32%). Season-wise, the higher prevalence of infection was noted in monsoon (14.74%) followed by winter (11.48%), autumn (11.38%) and summer (10.20%).