Prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum in mithuns (Bos frontalis) from India

Systematic examination of faecal samples from mithuns maintained at the National Research Centre on Mithun, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Nagaland, India and mithuns found in free-ranging condition of Nagaland, by using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit, revealed that the overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum in mithun was 56% (95% CI = 48–64). Highest (prevalence rate = 81, 95% CI = 67–95) prevalence was found in mithuns of 1–6 months of age and lowest (prevalence rate = 42, 95% CI = 31–53) in mithuns above 2 years of age. The prevalence was found to be higher (94%) in diarrhoeic animals in comparison to non-diarrhoeic group (51%). No statistically significant difference was observed between male (prevalence rate = 61, 95% CI = 48–74) and female (prevalence rate = 53, 95% CI = 43–63) prevalences. The prevalence was found to be higher (prevalence rate = 64, 95% CI = 55–73) in mithuns kept in semi-intensive system than mithuns found in free-ranging condition (prevalence rate = 40, 95% CI = 27–53). The risk factor that may play a pivotal role in the epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis in mithun is also discussed in brief. The zoonotic implication of the disease is also discussed. This is probably the first report on prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum in mithun.