Prevalence of Cryptosporidium Infection in Small Ruminants in Four Northern Egyptian Governorates

Ahmed, Alaa Ashraf; Marzok, Mohamed; Gattan, Hattan S.; Alruhaili, Abdelfattah; Salem, Mohamed; Selim, Abdelfattah

doi:10.21608/ejvs.2025.340612.2530

Prevalence of Cryptosporidium Infection in Small Ruminants in Four Northern Egyptian Governorates

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia

² Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

³ Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

⁴ Professor Department of animal diseases, Faculty of veterinary medicine Benha University

10.21608/ejvs.2025.340612.2530

Abstract

Cryptosporidium spp. considered as important gastrointestinal protozoan, that can be affect domestic animals including small ruminants. Data regarding the risk factors for infection with Cryptosporidium spp. in Egypt's small ruminants are scarce. Thus, the current study sought to ascertain the frequency of Cryptosporidium infection in sheep and goats in four Egyptian governorates as well as other risk factors. Using the modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique, 820 fresh faecal samples were collected from sheep and goats between January and December 2022 and analysed under a microscope to check for Cryptosporidium oocysts. Overall, 42.7% of animals were infected with Cryptosporidium spp., with 43% of sheep and 42.3% of goats having infection. Furthermore, locality, sex, age, and season are risk factors for small ruminant infection with Cryptosporidium spp., according to multivariate logistic regression study. There is a correlation between the prevalence of Cryptosporidium and a history of diarrhoea, especially in tiny ruminants that are part of big herds. Animals raised in the KafrElSheikh governorate, females, and calves with a history of diarrhoea were twice as likely to be infected with Cryptosporidium spp. Furthermore, animals raised in large herds, calves less than one year, and the winter season had three times the risk of contracting Cryptosporidium spp. Further research is required to determine risk factors and evaluate the significance of Cryptosporidium infection in Egyptian sheep and goats for veterinary public health.

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