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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Am Vet Med Assoc / Prevalence of and risk factors for fecal shedding of Cryptos...
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association1998; 213(9); 1296-1302;

Prevalence of and risk factors for fecal shedding of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in horses.

Abstract: To determine prevalence of and risk factors for fecal shedding of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts among 3 populations of horses. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: 152 horses participating in the 1996 Texas State 4-H Horse Show, 144 horses examined by the veterinary teaching hospital, and 70 broodmares and their 10- to 21-day-old foals. Methods: Information on signalment and potential risk factors for fecal shedding of oocysts was obtained. Fecal samples were evaluated for oocysts by means of acid-fast (AF) staining, immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and, for selected samples, flow cytometry (FC). Results: Results of the 3 diagnostic tests were significantly different. The best agreement was between results of the IFA and FC; AF staining and FC were more sensitive than the IFA, but AF staining was less specific. Fecal samples from 13 horses were classified as positive for oocysts. Risk factors for fecal shedding of oocysts included residence on 2 of 4 breeding farms involved in the study, age < 6 months, and history of diarrhea during the preceding 30 days. A municipal water source was implicated as a risk but could not be verified because of insufficient data. Conclusions: Mature horses and exposure to cattle did not appear to be important sources of cryptosporidial infection for foals. Overall prevalence of C parvum infection among these horses was low, and C parvum infection appeared to be associated with particular farms, rather than an endemic opportunistic infection in horses.
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Publication Date: 1998-11-12 PubMed ID: 9810386
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

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This research article explores the prevalence and risk factors of fecal shedding of Cryptosporidium Parvum oocysts in horses. The study found that young horses and those with recent diarrhea, especially if residing in particular farms, were more likely to shed the parasite.

Research Methodology

  • The study was a cross-sectional study encompassing three different horse populations. These included 152 horses from the 1996 Texas State 4-H Horse Show, 144 horses examined by a veterinary teaching hospital, and 70 broodmares with their 10- to 21-day-old foals.
  • Data were collected on the horses’ attributes (signalment) and potential risk factors for fecally shedding the parasite’s oocysts.
  • The presence of the parasite in fecal samples from these horses was checked using three diagnostic methods: Acid-fast staining (AF), Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA), and Flow Cytometry (FC).

Research Findings

  • The three diagnostic tests (AF staining, IFA, and FC) yielded significantly different results, but the best agreement was observed between IFA and FC results.
  • AF staining and FC showed better sensitivity than IFA, although AF staining was less specific.
  • Oocysts were found in fecal samples from 13 horses, indicating that these horses were shedding the parasite.
  • The prominent risk factors for fecal shedding of oocysts were a horse’s residence in two out of the four studied breeding farms, being younger than six months, and having a history of diarrhea in the past 30 days.
  • A municipal water source was suggested as a risk factor, but this could not be confirmed due to insufficient data.

Conclusions

  • The study concluded that C. Parvum infection seemed to be somewhat specific to certain horse populations or settings (like specific farms), rather than being broadly distributed or endemic in all horses.
  • Mature horses and exposure to cattle did not seem to significantly influence the risk of infection in foals.
  • Overall, the prevalence of C. Parvum infection among the studied horses was low.

Cite This Article

APA
Cole DJ, Cohen ND, Snowden K, Smith R. (1998). Prevalence of and risk factors for fecal shedding of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in horses. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 213(9), 1296-1302.

Publication

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
ISSN: 0003-1488
NlmUniqueID: 7503067
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 213
Issue: 9
Pages: 1296-1302

Researcher Affiliations

Cole, D J
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4475, USA.
Cohen, N D
    Snowden, K
      Smith, R

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Cross-Sectional Studies
        • Cryptosporidiosis / epidemiology
        • Cryptosporidium parvum / isolation & purification
        • Diarrhea / parasitology
        • Diarrhea / veterinary
        • Feces / parasitology
        • Female
        • Fresh Water / parasitology
        • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
        • Horses
        • Male
        • Prevalence
        • Risk Factors
        • Sensitivity and Specificity
        • Texas / epidemiology
        • Water Supply

        Citations

        This article has been cited 7 times.
        1. Mallicote M, House AM, Sanchez LC. A review of foal diarrhoea from birth to weaning.. Equine Vet Educ 2012 Apr;24(4):206-214.
          doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3292.2011.00358.xpubmed: 32313387google scholar: lookup
        2. Pintar KD, Christidis T, Thomas MK, Anderson M, Nesbitt A, Keithlin J, Marshall B, Pollari F. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Campylobacter spp. Prevalence and Concentration in Household Pets and Petting Zoo Animals for Use in Exposure Assessments.. PLoS One 2015;10(12):e0144976.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144976pubmed: 26683667google scholar: lookup
        3. Wagnerová P, Sak B, McEvoy J, Rost M, Matysiak AP, Ježková J, Kváč M. Genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. including novel identification of the Cryptosporidium muris and Cryptosporidium tyzzeri in horses in the Czech Republic and Poland.. Parasitol Res 2015 Apr;114(4):1619-24.
          doi: 10.1007/s00436-015-4353-ypubmed: 25722018google scholar: lookup
        4. Harris R, Sankar K, Small JA, Suepaul R, Stewart-Johnson A, Adesiyun A. Prevalence and characteristics of enteric pathogens detected in diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic foals in trinidad.. Vet Med Int 2012;2012:724959.
          doi: 10.1155/2012/724959pubmed: 22792513google scholar: lookup
        5. Grinberg A, Learmonth J, Kwan E, Pomroy W, Lopez Villalobos N, Gibson I, Widmer G. Genetic diversity and zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium parvum causing foal diarrhea.. J Clin Microbiol 2008 Jul;46(7):2396-8.
          doi: 10.1128/JCM.00936-08pubmed: 18508944google scholar: lookup
        6. Magdesian KG. Neonatal foal diarrhea.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2005 Aug;21(2):295-312, vi.
          doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2005.04.009pubmed: 16051051google scholar: lookup
        7. Majewska AC, Solarczyk P, Tamang L, Graczyk TK. Equine Cryptosporidium parvum infections in western Poland.. Parasitol Res 2004 Jul;93(4):274-8.
          doi: 10.1007/s00436-004-1111-ypubmed: 15156396google scholar: lookup
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