Cryptosporidiosis in Calves

Epidemiologic Questions, Diagnosis and Management

Abstract

Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite of the suborder Eimeriorina which inhabits the microvillous border of intestinal enterocytes of calves, lambsand other animals and which has a life cycle pattern similar to that of other coccidia. Cryptosporidia have been recognized histologically in intestinal sections and by Giemsastained ileal and fecal smears, in field outbreaks of calf diarrhea. Recently, fecal flotation was used to detect oocysts in feces. They most often are in the presence of other enteric pathogens but some recent reports have attributed outbreaks solely to cryptosporidia