[Occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. in a dairy cattle herd from Caçapava Municipality, São Paulo State, Brazil]. [Ocorrência de Cryptosporidium spp. em um rebanho bovino leiteiro no Município de Caçapava, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil.]

Abstract

Occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. was investigated in a Brazilian dairy farm over the course of 1 year. Cattle of different aged were employed and divided into seven groups: 0-2 months; 2-4 months; 4-6 months; 6- 10 months; 10-16 months; 16-24 months; > 24 months. Fecal samples were collected from a total of 849 animals in six times. These samples were evaluated by centrifugal flotation method using a sucrose solution. Herd occurrence for C. parvum was 0.6%, varied by month of sample collection from 0 to 1.4%. The highest frequency of C. parvum was found in animals 0-2 months old with oocysts in 3 of the 61 samples (4.9%). Herd occurrence for C. andersoni was 0.1%, varied by month of sample collection from 0 to 0.7%. Only one cow was found infected for C. andersoni.