Cryptosporidium Infection in Sheep and Goats in Southern Botswana and Its Public Health Significance.
Journal Title: Global Journal of Animal Scientific Research - Year 2015, Vol 3, Issue 4
Abstract
Fecal samples of 166 sheep and 222 goats collected from 14 farms in southern Botswana were screened for the presence of Cryptosporidium infection using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Modified Ziehl-Neelsen (MZN) staining technique. An overall prevalence rate of 13.3% (22/166) in sheep and 12.2% (27/222) in goats were detected. ELISA proved to be more sensitive in detecting Cryptosporidium infection than MZN (P = 0.04). Lambs and goat kids aged ≤ 4 weeks showed highest infection rates of 19.4% (13/67) and 16.5% (15/91), respectively. The infection rate of 16.7% (42/251) was recorded in small ruminants ≤ 12 weeks compared to 5.1% (7/137) in adults (P= 0.002). Diarrheic animals demonstrated 20.7% (12/58) prevalence in comparison to 11.2% (37/330) in animals excreting normal solid feces (P= 0.07). The significance levels in the infection rates in sheep versus goats and males versus females were P=0.87 and P= 0.76, respectively. Animals reared under traditional communal management system exhibited more susceptibility to cryptosporidiosis than those under semi-intensive husbandry system (P= 0.04). Of the 62 environmental samples taken, Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 2 of 27 (7.4%) soil and 1 of 22 (4.5%) water samples. None of 14 manure specimens derived from every sampled small stock farm was found positive. The results of the present study revealed the occurrence of Cryptosporidium infection in small stock population in southern Botswana. It suggested potential role of young lambs and goat kids for transmission of human cryptosporidiosis via environmental contamination. Application of molecular techniques for characterization of Cryptosporidium field isolates including zoonotic species and genotypes is urgently required. Creation of farmers’ awareness through extension education program on good animal husbandry practices will help in devising appropriate strategies to control animal and human cryptosporidiosis.
Authors and Affiliations
Surender Pal Sharma, Mompoloki Busang
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP29187
- DOI -
- Views 333
- Downloads 5
Effects of Harvesting Management on Nutritive Values and Yielding of Cassava Foliage and Tuber
The experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different harvesting period on the chemical composition and yielding of cassava (foliage and tuber). Two different ages of cassava foliage of initial harvesting,...
The effect of breed on Skin\ Leather Quality of Sudan Desert Sheep
This study was carried out to estimate the effect of Sudan Desert sheep breed variations on skin\leather quality. Five Sudan desert sheep breeds on an average age of 1-1.2 years were selected for the study. One hundred...
Short-Term Incorporation of Tomato Pomace and Invert Sugar in Diets of One- and Two-Year-Old Layers
By-products - tomato pomace (TP) and powdered invert sugar (IS) - were substituted at low concentration in commercial Layena® crumble (L) diets of second and third cycle laying hens to simulate feeding of backyard laye...
Lactogenic and Reproductive Potentials of Spreading Day Flower (Commelina Diffusa Burm. F) and Rock Fig (Ficus Ingens Miq.) In Rabbit Does.
Lactogenic and reproductive potentialities of Commelina diffusa and Ficus ingens were studied using twenty-four (24) nulliparous New Zealand White does. The does were mated to mature bucks, and divided into four (4) tr...
Broiler Chicken Growth Performance, Ileal Microbial Population and Serum Enzyme Activity Affected By Dietary Source of NonStarch Polysaccharides As Supplemented With or Without Enzymes
An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different dietary source of Non-starch polysaccharides with or without enzymes on growth performance, ileal microbial population, and serum enzyme activity of broil...