Cryptosporidial oocysts shedding from pregnant cows

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the shedding rate of cryptosporidial oocysts from pregnant cows. A total of 120 fecal samples were collected from pregnant cows (in the beginning of the seventh month of gestation) from Al-Nasir Station during the period from November 2009 till the end of February 2010. Modified Zeihl-Neelsen Stain (MZN) was used to examine the samples where 40 cows 33.33% gave positive results. The oocysts appeared spherical in shape and had red colour with Zeihl-Neelsen, and measured 4.2 5.2 μm. Fecal sample were collected from the infected 40 cows for 18 weeks (9 before parturition, parturition week, and 8 weeks after parturition). Numbers of shedded oocysts per gram of feces were determined. The average number of oocysts per gram of feces was 810 oocysts in the nineth week pre- parturition. This average reached its peak in the week of parturition (2500 oocysts/ gram of feces), then it declined gradually to 260 oocysts per gram of feces in the eighth week post- parturition. We can conclude that factors of pregnancy and parturition have effects on the numbers of oocysts shedded with feces