A Study on diagnosis and therapeutic management of cryptosporidiosis in calves

The cryptosporidiosis is the major protozoal disease of calves. The overall prevalence of cryptosporidiosis was found to be 14.63 per cent in 205 diarrhoeic calves. The mZN staining method was economical and sensitive tool for diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis compared to other microscopic examinations. The positive samples were subjected to nPCR analysis and confirmed the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. in the 30 suspected samples at 834bp on agarose gel electrophoresis. The nPCR products were sequenced and revealed the presence of C.parvum in the two samples. The phylogenetic tree of sequenced samples suggested that the present samples were in close relation with isolates of Punjab (India), Bangladesh and China. Haemogram indicated that the calves were marginally anaemic and dehydrated along with corresponding alterations in erythrocyte indices. There was significant increase in the total leukocyte count in the present investigation. Hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia were observed with corresponding decrease in the A:G ratio although the alterations were marginal. Histologically, there was desquamation of epithelial cells on intestinal mucosa and atrophy of villus crypts thus reducing the crypt to villi ratio. Nitazoxanide and azithromycin were equally effective in eliminating the infection with proper supportive therapy, however treatment with azithromycin was cost effective.