Prevalence of Cryptosporidiosis and Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. in Calves in Erzurum

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis and to identify Cryptosporidium species found in preweaned calves, in Erzurum, Turkey. Fecal samples were collected from 307 calves up to one month old from 5 dairy farms. Genomic DNA was obtained by DNA extraction (QIAamp DNA Stool kit). The prevalence of cryptosporidiosis was determined based on identification through a nested PCR protocol to amplify fragments of the Cryptosporidium SSU rRNA gene. 3.9% of calves were positive for Cryptosporidium. Calves that were subjected to traditional herd management, were female, aged 2 weeks, and had watery feces were affected by the disease at a greater incidence than those were subjected to planned herd surveillance program, were males, were older than 3 weeks, and had firm feces. DNA sequence analysis of the SSU rRNA gene on all of the PCR positive samples ascertained that C. parvum was the only species present. Further studies should be performed comprehensive fecal analysis for other causative agents for association Cryptosporidium species in calf diarrhea and mortality resulting in economic loss in the region.