Cryptosporidium spp. detection in water tanks and ponds of dairy farms

Abstract

The objective of this research was to identify Cryptosporidium spp. in water tanks of dairy farms in the Comarca Lagunera. Water samples were analyzed using the conventional Ziehl-Neelsen technique, from 36 outdoor ponds with or without polyethylene covers and four stainless steel tanks from dairy farms in the Comarca Lagunera. In addition, a n=28 sampling of feces from 10 farms divided into two was carried out. Cryptosporidium spp. was found using the Ziehl-Neelsen technique in five water samples (12.5%) of the 33 water samples from outdoor ponds without polyethylene covers, leaving 28 samples (84.9%) where it was not detected. For the three water samples from outdoor ponds with polyethylene covers and the four stainless steel tank samples, the parasite was not detected. For the Cryptosporidium spp. feces samples, It was present in 57% of the 28 samples, in seven stables where Cryptosporidium spp. was found in the water and in nine stables where the parasite in question was not determined, leaving twelve samples where the parasite was not detected according to the conventional Ziehl Neelsen technique. These results show the presence of the parasite in farms with conventional diagnostic techniques. In future research, it is necessary to perform an analysis to determine whether the species found are zoonotic in nature, thus preventing possible diseases among humans and animals.

Keywords:

Zoonoses, Protozoan, Cattle, México