Prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in cattle from selected commercial farms and nomadic settlements in Yola, Adamawa State

Cryptosporidium species are apicomplexan parasites commonly associated with diarrhoea in both men and animals. They are of public health importance. The study aimed to determine the occurrence of Cryptosporidium species in cattle in the Yola metropolitan area, Adamawa State, Nigeria. Four hundred and sixteen (416) faecal samples were collected from cattle in commercial farms and nomadic settlements and were analyzed using Modified Ziehl Neelsen (MZN) technique. Twenty-seven (27) positive samples were subjected to nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for the amplification of a specific fragment of 18S rRNA gene that was used to detect Cryptosporidium spp. Seventy-three (17.5%) out of 416 samples were positive for Cryptosporidium oocysts by MZN, and 26 (96.0%) out of 27 isolated oocysts of Cryptosporidium detected by MZN were positive by PCR. Commercial farms had a higher prevalence (19.2%) of Cryptosporidium oocysts than the nomadic settlements (15.9%). Based on risk factors, there was a significant association (P<0.05) between the occurrence of Cryptosporidium oocysts and factors such as sex and faecal consistency. At the same time, age, breed, management system, animal source and drinking water source varied insignificantly (P>0.05). This study has shown the occurrence of Cryptosporidium infection in cattle in the Yola metropolis. There should be an awareness campaign among public health workers on the dangers posed by the organism to humans so that the Government would enforce control and preventive measures.