FREQUÊNCIA DE OCORRÊNCIA DE Giardia sp. E DE Cryptosporidium spp. EM EQUÍDEOS NATURALMENTE INFECTADOS E ABATIDOS EM UM FRIGORÍFICO

Abstract

Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia sp are protozoan of larger importance by their zoonotic potential. We studied the frequency of occurrence of these parasites in equidae from Araguari - Minas Gerais, slaughtered during February to March of 2008 and correlated with sex, species and origin. A total of 150 fecal samples were collected and specific techniques were used. The results showed 4% (6/150) of Giardia sp. in all the samples. The positivity was 4.23% (3/71) in females and 3.80% (3/79) in males. The positivity was 10.53% (2/19) in mules and 3.05% (4/131) in horses. The positive samples from Brazilian states was 16.67% (1/6) in Bahia, 7.69% (1/13) in Tocantins, 3.61% (3/83) in Minas Gerais and 2.08% (1/48) in Goiás. Cryptosporidium spp. were not found in any samples analyzed (n=150). We concluded that it is very important to study the frequency of these protozoans in horses, adding data to the; we also suggest molecular studies to associate with epidemiology and public health