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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Review of equine Cryptosporidium infection.
Equine veterinary journal1994; 26(1); 9-13; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1994.tb04322.x

Review of equine Cryptosporidium infection.

Abstract: Diarrhoea is one of the most important diseases of foals and 7040% are affected within the first 6 months of life (Palmer 1985). Although the cause is multifactorial and changes in the physiology and nutrition of foals are sometimes responsible, diarrhoea is frequently the result of infection by enteropathogens such as bacteria, viruses and nematodes (Palmer 1985; Tzipori 1985). There is increasing evidence that Cryptosporidium infection can also cause diarrhoea in foals (Austin et a/. 1990; Kim 1990). Cryptosporidiosis in horses is caused by Cryptosporidium parvum, a coccidial parasite infective to mammals. C. muris has been reported in foals in Italy (Canestri-Trotti and Visconti 1985). but its identity was questionable because the reported size of oocysts was within the range of C. paivum (Kim 1990). Like other coccidia, the infective stage for Ciyptosporidium is the sporulated oocyst. Unlike the others, the sporulation of Ciyptosporidium occurs within the microvillous border of the small intestine. Therefore, newly excreted Cryptosporidium oocysts are infective to other hosts immediately. In addition, there are two types of oocysts in Ciyptosporidium: (I) thin-walled oocysts that exist within the intestine shortly after their formation and re-initiate infection (autoinfection), and (2) thick-walled oocysts that are excreted in faeces and are responsible for the transmission of infection from one animal to another (Current and Garcia 1991).
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Publication Date: 1994-01-01 PubMed ID: 8143674PubMed Central: PMC7163424DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1994.tb04322.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article is revolving around the study of diarrhoea in foals or young horses, caused largely by an infection known as Cryptosporidium. According to the study, this issue affects 70-40% of foals in their initial six months of life and has been traced back to a parasite called Cryptosporidium parvum.

Causes and Impact of Diarrhoea in Foals

  • The research addresses diarrhoea as a significant disease in foals, affecting around 70-40% of them within their first six months of life.
  • The study mentions that the genesis of diarrhoea is a multifactorial occurrence and changes in the nutrition and physiology of foals are usually a major contributing factor.
  • Among other factors, the diarrhoea is predominantly a result of infections caused by microorganisms like bacteria, viruses and nematodes. The role of Cryptosporidium infection has been emphasised as a significant contributor to diarrhoea in foals.

Role of Cryptosporidium infection

  • The study focuses on horse cryptosporidiosis caused by Cryptosporidium parvum, a coccidial parasite capable of infecting mammals.
  • The identity of C. muris, reported in foals in Italy, was dubious as the size of the oocyst was identical to C. parvum. An important part is that the infectious stage of Cryptosporidium, the sporulated oocyst, takes place in the small intestine’s ciliar edge.
  • Newly excreted Cryptosporidium oocysts are infective to other hosts immediately.
  • Cryptosporidium has two types of oocysts: (1) thin-walled oocysts present in the intestine immediately after their formation and trigger the re-initiation of the infection (autoinfection), and (2) thick-walled oocysts are excreted via faeces enabling the transmission of the infection from one animal to another.

Cite This Article

APA
Xiao L, Herd RP. (1994). Review of equine Cryptosporidium infection. Equine Vet J, 26(1), 9-13. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1994.tb04322.x

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 26
Issue: 1
Pages: 9-13

Researcher Affiliations

Xiao, L
  • Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
Herd, R P

    MeSH Terms

    • Animals
    • Animals, Newborn
    • Animals, Suckling
    • Cryptosporidiosis / epidemiology
    • Cryptosporidiosis / etiology
    • Cryptosporidiosis / prevention & control
    • Diarrhea / epidemiology
    • Diarrhea / etiology
    • Diarrhea / prevention & control
    • Diarrhea / veterinary
    • Female
    • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
    • Horse Diseases / etiology
    • Horse Diseases / prevention & control
    • Horses
    • Prevalence

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    Citations

    This article has been cited 5 times.
    1. Oliver-Espinosa O. Foal Diarrhea: Established and Postulated Causes, Prevention, Diagnostics, and Treatments. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2018 Apr;34(1):55-68.
      doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2017.11.003pubmed: 29395727google scholar: lookup
    2. Majewska AC, Solarczyk P, Tamang L, Graczyk TK. Equine Cryptosporidium parvum infections in western Poland. Parasitol Res 2004 Jul;93(4):274-8.
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    4. Cole DJ, Snowden K, Cohen ND, Smith R. Detection of Cryptosporidium parvum in horses: thresholds of acid-fast stain, immunofluorescence assay, and flow cytometry. J Clin Microbiol 1999 Feb;37(2):457-60.
      doi: 10.1128/JCM.37.2.457-460.1999pubmed: 9889243google scholar: lookup
    5. Granstrom DE. Recent advances in the laboratory diagnosis of equine parasitic diseases. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 1995 Dec;11(3):437-42.
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