Cryptosporidiosis in deer calves

Abstract

Extract

Madam:– Cryptosporidium sp. is a small ubiquitous protozoan parasite which lacks host-specificity. Clinical infections with diarrhoea and sub-clinical infections have been reported in many species.(1) The organisms are pathogenic for much younger animals than those affected by other coccidia,(8) and housed artificially reared calves,(1) lambs(7) and fawns(8) seem particuarly susceptible. Infection is diagnosed histologically or by the demonstration of oocysts (about 4μm diam.) in Giemsa stained faecal smears. The oocysts are very resistant to many commonly used disinfectants, but are destroyed by exposure to household ammonia or 10% formal saline.(6)