Prevalence of Cryptosporidium infections in pigs in Aragón (northeastern Spain)

Faecal samples from 620 pigs randomly selected from 27 farms throughout Aragón were examined to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infections. Detection of oocysts was performed using the ethyl-acetate stool concentration method and the modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique. Cryptosporidium parv...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Veterinary parasitology 1996-12, Vol.67 (1), p.83-88
Main Authors: Quílez, J., Sánchez-Acedo, C., Clavel, A., del Cacho, E., López-Bernad, F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Factors
Animals
Ascariasis - epidemiology
Ascariasis - veterinary
Ascaris - isolation & purification
Balantidiasis - epidemiology
Balantidiasis - veterinary
Balantidium
Blastocystis
Blastocystis Infections - epidemiology
Blastocystis Infections - veterinary
cerdo
Cryptosporidiosis - epidemiology
Cryptosporidiosis - veterinary
cryptosporidium
Cryptosporidium parvum
Cryptosporidium parvum - isolation & purification
Diarrhea - epidemiology
Diarrhea - parasitology
Diarrhea - veterinary
Epidemiology
espagne
espana
faeces
feces
Feces - parasitology
heces
infeccion
infection
morbidite
morbidity
morbosidad
Pig
porcin
Prevalence
spain
Spain - epidemiology
Swine
Swine Diseases - epidemiology
Symptomatology
Weaning
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Faecal samples from 620 pigs randomly selected from 27 farms throughout Aragón were examined to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infections. Detection of oocysts was performed using the ethyl-acetate stool concentration method and the modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique. Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts were identified in 136 (21.9%) pigs from 21 (77.8%) farms. Infected animals ranged from 1 to 6 months old and oocysts were not detected in suckling piglets or adults. Infection rates were significantly higher in weaned, 1–2 month old piglets (59.2%) than in fattening, 2–6 month old pigs (34.3%) ( P < 0.001). Cryptosporidial infections were asymptomatic in most of the pigs (90.4%) and usually of low intensity, since 92.6% of the infected pigs excreted few oocysts (0–1 oocysts per field at × 200 magnifications). Although 24.1% of weaned and 5.6% of fattening pigs infected by C. parvum had diarrhoea, it was not found to be statistically associated with infection. In fact, infection rates were higher in non-diarrhoeric than in diarrhoeic pigs, in both weaned (64.7% and 46.7%, respectively) and fattening pigs (34.3% and 33.3%).
ISSN:0304-4017
1873-2550
DOI:10.1016/S0304-4017(96)01026-6