Prevalence and risk factors for shedding of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in dairy calves of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Garro, Carlos; Morici, Gabriel; Utgés, María Eugenia; Tomazic, Mariela Luján; Schnittger, Leonhard

doi:10.1016/j.parepi.2016.03.008

Cited by 28 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Shedding of C. parvum oocysts was significantly associated with watery diarrhoea, mainly in calves younger than 2 weeks, which presented a higher probability of being positive than other animals; these results are in line with previous studies (Kváč et al 2006;Duranti et al 2009;Garro et al 2016). C. parvum is broadly recognised as the most pathogenic species for cattle, since it is responsible for the appearance of important neonatal diarrhoea outbreaks in farms (Santín et al 2004;Fayer et al 2006;Quílez et al 2008;Díaz et al 2010;Imre and Dărăbus 2011), although in some studies, it has also been identified as the major or the only species in healthy cattle (Santín et al 2004;Castro-Hermida et al 2011;Trotz-Williams et al 2006;Fayer et al 2007;Duranti et al 2009).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Molecular characterisation and risk factor analysis of Cryptosporidium spp. in calves from Italy

et al. 2018

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To provide up-to-date information on the occurrence of Cryptosporidium in pre-weaned calves from Sardinia (Italy), the species implicated and their zoonotic potential, 147 faecal samples from 22 cattle herds were microscopically examined for Cryptosporidium oocysts; positive isolates were molecularly characterised. A questionnaire was developed to identify risk factors for Cryptosporidium infection. Overall, the percentage of positive calves and farms was 38.8 and 68.2%, respectively. The SSU rRNA-based PCR identified two Cryptosporidium species, Cryptosporidium parvum (95.8%) and C. bovis (4.2%). Sequence analyses of the glycoprotein (gp60) gene revealed that all C. parvum isolates belonged to the subtype family IIa (IIaA15G2R1 and IIaA16G3R1), with the exception of three isolates that belonged to the subtype family IId (IIdA20G1b and IIdA20). Mixed logistic regression results indicated that calves aged 15-21 days were more likely to be Cryptosporidium-positive. The risk of being positive was also significantly higher in herds from Central Sardinia and in farms using non-slatted flooring. In addition, the application of disinfectants and milk replacers was significantly associated with higher Cryptosporidium prevalence. In contrast, the risk of being positive was significantly reduced in halofuginone-treated calves. Our results reveal that a significant percentage of suckling calves are carriers of zoonotic subtypes of C. parvum. Thus, both healthy and diarrhoeic calves younger than 1 month may represent a risk for the transmission of cryptosporidiosis in humans and animals.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Molecular characterisation and risk factor analysis of Cryptosporidium spp. in calves from Italy

et al. 2018

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“…Cryptosporidium parvum infection in calves is widespread (Brook et al 2008;Trotz-Williams et al 2008;Al Mawly et al 2015;Qi et al 2015), and also in the present study, C. parvum was, in agreement with previous reports in Argentina, the only species identified in calves (Tomazic et al 2013;Del Coco et al 2014). However, in contrast to previous studies done in Argentina, a considerably higher overall prevalence was found (Del Coco et al 2008;Tiranti et al 2011;Garro et al 2016), probably due to an additional oocysts concentration step prior to microscopic examination significantly increasing the sensitivity of oocyst detection. In the present study, the sampling fraction of calves ≤ 30 days of age was 83% (888/1073), which is the age range were C. parvum is most frequently found (Santín et al 2008;Xiao 2010;Ryan et al 2014).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Similar to the considerable differences of overall prevalence that have been reported, corresponding dissimilarities in herd prevalence may likewise be attributed to the different sensitivities of applied diagnostic test. Accordingly, Garro et al (2016) estimated a herd prevalence of 67% (overall prevalence 16.3%) compared with 89% (overall prevalence 26.3%) in the present study. Other factors that may bias towards lower herd prevalence values, maybe the sampling of a smaller age range or a higher number of older animals (30-60 days).…”

Section: Dairy Herdcontrasting

confidence: 41%

“…At least one C. parvum-positive calf was detected in 89% of the herds studied. Highly variable herd prevalence ranging from 50.5 to 96% have been reported (Hamnes et al 2006;Brook et al 2008;Trotz-Williams et al 2008;Silverlås et al 2009;Tiranti et al 2011;Smith et al 2014;Al Mawly et al 2015;Delafosse et al 2015;Garro et al 2016;Avendaño et al 2018). Similar to the considerable differences of overall prevalence that have been reported, corresponding dissimilarities in herd prevalence may likewise be attributed to the different sensitivities of applied diagnostic test.…”

Section: Dairy Herdmentioning

confidence: 67%

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Prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum in dairy calves and GP60 subtyping of diarrheic calves in central Argentina

et al. 2019

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Cryptosporidiosis of calves is caused by the enteroprotozoan Cryptosporidium spp. The disease results in intense diarrhea of calves associated with substantial economic losses in dairy farming worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine calf, herd, and within-herd Cryptosporidium prevalence and identify Cryptosporidium species and subtypes in calves with diarrhea in intensive dairy herds in central Argentina. A total of 1073 fecal samples were collected from 54 randomly selected dairy herds. Cryptosporidium-oocysts were isolated and concentrated from fecal samples using formol-ether and detected by light microscopy with the modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique. Overall prevalence of oocyst-excreting calves was found to be 25.5% (274/ 1073) (95% C.I. 22.9; 28.1%). Of the herds studied, 89% (48/54) included at least one infected calf, whereas within-herd prevalence ranged from the absence of infection to 57% (20/35). A highly significant association was found between the presence of diarrhea and C. parvum infection (χ 2 = 55.89, p < 0.001). For species determination, genomic DNA isolated from oocystpositive fecal samples was subjected to PCR-RFLP of the 18S rRNA gene resulting exclusively in Cryptosporidium parvum identification. C. parvum isolates of calves displaying diarrhea and high rate of excretion of oocysts were subtyped by PCR amplification and direct sequencing of the 60 kDa glycoprotein (GP60) gene. Altogether five GP60 subtypes, designated IIaA18G1R1, IIaA20G1R1, IIaA21G1R1, IIaA22G1R1, and IIaA24G1R1 were identified. Interestingly, IIaA18G1R1 and IIaA20G1R1 were predominant in calves with diarrhea and high infection intensity. Notably, IIaA24G1R1 represents a novel, previously unrecognized C. parvum subtype. The subtype IIaA18G1R1, frequently found in this study, is strongly implicated in zoonotic transmission. These results suggest that calves might be an important source for human cryptosporidiosis in Argentina.

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“…Although the balance of the research seems to point to either neutral or positive effects of dam rearing on calf scours, results are mixed with respect to Cryptosporidium (see Table 2). Two of the 9 included studies reported a protective effect of the dam's presence (Kvac et al, 2006;Duranti et al, 2009), 4 reported no difference (Maldonado Camargo et al, 1998;Mohammed et al, 1999;Delafosse et al, 2015;Garro et al, 2016), and the remaining 3 (Quigley et al, 1994;Trotz-Williams et al, 2007, 2008a indicated that dam-calf contact increases the risk of infection. This lack of consensus may stem from variation in study design and outcome measurements (e.g., herd versus sample-level prevalence), in breed (dairy versus mixed dairy-beef), or in the diagnostic methods chosen.…”

Section: Calf Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invited review: A systematic review of the effects of early separation on dairy cow and calf health

Beaver

Meagher

Keyserlingk

et al. 2019

Journal of Dairy Science

109

100

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Concern from the public is growing regarding early cow-calf separation, yet proponents of this practice maintain that artificial rearing is critical for cow and calf health. Early separation is assumed to reduce the risk of transfer of pathogens from dam to neonatal calf, but a wide range of health benefits associated with extended cow-calf contact has also been documented. The aim of this systematic review was to report and synthesize conclusions from the literature on dairy cow and calf health in conventional rearing versus cow-calf contact systems. Peer-reviewed, published manuscripts, written in English, directly comparing dairy cow or calf health in artificial versus suckling systems, were eligible for inclusion. We conducted 7 targeted searches using Web of Science to identify key literature on important health conditions. The resulting manuscripts underwent a 4-step appraisal process, and further manuscripts were sourced from reference lists. This process resulted in a final sample of 70 articles that addressed cow and calf health. Sufficient literature was available to assess mastitis in cows, and scours, cryptosporidiosis, Johne's disease, pneumonia, immunity, and mortality in calves. The results for cryptosporidiosis, pneumonia, immunity, and mortality were mixed, with some differences between studies likely attributable to flawed comparisons between cohorts. Overall, the articles addressing calf scours and mastitis pointed to beneficial or no effects of suckling. The studies addressing Johne's disease did not find cow-calf contact to be a significant risk factor. In conclusion, the scientific peer-reviewed literature on cow and calf health provides no consistent evidence in support of early separation.

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Prevalence and risk factors for shedding of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in dairy calves of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Cited by 28 publications

References 21 publications

Molecular characterisation and risk factor analysis of Cryptosporidium spp. in calves from Italy

Molecular characterisation and risk factor analysis of Cryptosporidium spp. in calves from Italy

Prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum in dairy calves and GP60 subtyping of diarrheic calves in central Argentina

Invited review: A systematic review of the effects of early separation on dairy cow and calf health

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