Prevalence and genotyping of Cryptosporidium in three cattle husbandry systems in Zambia

To estimate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in three different husbandry systems in Zambia, faecal samples were collected from calves up to the age of 3 months. Faecal consistency was scored for correlation with infection. Additionally, 45 positive samples were selected for genotyping by amplification of the 70-kDa heat shock protein (HSP-70) and the 18S rRNA gene. A total of 37 dairy, 25 beef and 92 traditional husbandry farms were visited: 250 samples were collected on dairy farms, 238 on beef farms and 256 on traditional husbandry farms. All samples were analysed using a commercial copro-antigen ELISA (Techlab®Cryptospridium test). The calf prevalence in dairy, beef and traditional husbandry systems was 42.8%, 8.0% and 6.3%, respectively. Furthermore, 75.7% of the dairy farms, 44.0% of the beef farms and 15.2% of the traditional husbandry farms had at least one positive calf at the time of visit. Subsequently, there was a significantly higher Cryptosporidium parvum prevalence on dairy farms compared to beef or traditional farms (χ2, P < 0.001). On dairy farms low faecal consistency was correlated with C. parvum infection (χ2, P < 0.05). Both C. parvum and C. bovis were identified, although in one beef calf C. suis was found.