Haryana Vet. (December, 2016) 55 (2), 235-236 Short Communication PREVALENCE OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM SPECIES IN BUFFALO CALVES IN WESTERN KRUTANJALI SWAIN, SUKHDEEP VOHRA* and ARUN K. SANGWAN Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Sciences Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, -125 004, Received: 14.07.2016; Accepted: 19.11.2016 ABSTRACT

A total of 402 faecal samples of buffalo calves of below three months of age were collected from various villages and organised buffalo farms located in Hisar, , Fatehabad and districts of Haryana. The samples were screened for the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts after concentration with formol ether technique followed by modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium in buffalo calves was 8.7% with the highest prevalence of 25% at the university buffalo farm. District wise, highest prevalence was observed in district Hisar (10.8%) followed by Bhiwani (8.6%), Fatehabad (5.0%) and Sirsa (2.5%). Key words: Buffalo calves, Cryptosporidium sp., prevalence, Ziehl-Neelsen staining

Cryptosporidium is an emerging zoonotic Haryana state. The faeces consistency was also observed. apicomplex protozoan parasite which is recognized as a Direct faecal smear examination was performed for major cause of neonatal calf diarrhoea in several countries screening of samples for Cryptosporidium oocyst. (Cho and Yoon, 2014) including India (Bhat et al., 2012). Further, the samples were processed by formol ether At present there are 26 species considered as valid for technique followed by modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining Cryptosporidium genus (Ryan et al., 2014). technique (MZN) using commercial kit protocol (ZN Cryptosporidium is known to predilect the intestinal and Acid Fast stain-Kit, HiMedia) for the concentration and respiratory surface epithelium of around 152 species of identification of Cryptosporidium oocyst (OIE, 2008) mammals including humans, birds, reptiles, amphibians under oil immersion of the microscope. Samples from 14 and fish (Fayer and Xiao, 2008). Cattle and buffaloes are villages belonging to four districts of Haryana state viz. predominantly infected with this pathogen (Bhat et al., Kanheri, Lali (Fatehabad), Balsamand, , Datta, 2013). Four cryptosporidial species (C. parvum, C. Durjanpur, Mangali, Umra, Ladwa (Hisar), , andersoni, C. bovis, and C. ryanae) have been isolated Bawanikhera, Jeetakheri (Bhiwani), Mochiwali, Ding from bovine (Bhat et al., 2012). Calf diarrhoea associated (Sirsa) and LUVAS buffalo farm were screenedduring June, 2015 to May, 2016. with Cryptosporidium was for the first time reported by Nooruddin and Sarma (1987) in India, however, the first The examination of faecal samples using MZN confirmed case of C. parvum in calves was reported in revealed reddish pink coloured oocyst against greenish Uttar Pradesh (Dubey et al., 1992). Cryptosporidiosis is background (Fig. 1). Only animals showing mucoid semi- characterized by acute gastrointestinal disturbances, solid faeces consistency were positive for mucoid watery diarrhoea which leads to anorexia and Cryptosporidium oocyst. The overall prevalence of dehydration in calves resulting into heavy mortality and Cryptosporidium infection was 8.7% in buffalo calves production loss in the herd (Olson et al., 2003). The below 3 months of age (Table 1). Highest prevalence of present study aims at assessing prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection was recorded at LUVAS Cryptosporidium in buffalo calves in four western Buffalo Farm. However, no positive case was recorded districts of Haryana. in Ding (), Datta and Balsamand villages () (Table 1). A total of 402 faecal samples were collected randomly from neonatal buffalo calves below 3 months District-wise data analysis revealed highest of age from four western districts of Haryana (Hisar, prevalence in district Hisar (10.8%) followed by Bhiwani Bhiwani, Fatehabad and Sirsa) with a total geographical (8.6%), Fatehabad (5.0%) and Sirsa (2.5%) district. The area of 15683.90 km2 which constitute nearly 35.5% of statistical analysis of prevalence between different districts using Z-test showed no significant difference. The *Corresponding author: [email protected] animals or management practice employed in that area. On the basis of present findings, it is concluded that the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis in buffalo calves is very low i.e. 8.7% in western Haryana. It is recommended that all the calves especially below 3 months of age showing mucous filled semi solid faeces must be tested for Cryptosporidium infection using modified Ziehl- Neelsen staining technique.

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