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

Resumen

Objective: To identify Cryptosporidium spp. in water tanks and ponds of dairy farms from the Comarca Lagunera.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The experiment was carried out in dairy farms from the Comarca Lagunera, a region that extends on both sides of the border between the states of Coahuila and Durango, Mexico. Water samples from 36 open-air ponds (with or without polyethylene covers) and four stainless-steel tanks were analyzed using a modified version of the conventional Ziehl-Neelsen method. In addition, n=28 feces samples were taken from 10 dairy farms.

Results: The modified Ziehl-Neelsen method was used to identify Cryptosporidium spp. in five water samples (12.5%) out of the 33 samples taken from open-air ponds without a polyethylene cover. Cryptosporidium spp. was not detected in the 28 remaining water samples (84.9%). In addition, the parasite was not detected either in the three water samples from open-air ponds with a polyethylene cover or in the four samples from the stainless-steel tanks. Meanwhile, Cryptosporidium spp. was found in 57% of the 28 feces samples.

Limitations/Implications: Molecular studies should be carried out to identify the Cryptosporidium species found.

Findings/Conclusions: The parasite in question was detected in some open-air ponds of the dairy farms under study using the conventional diagnosis method. Future research should include an analysis to determine if the species found are zoonotic, in order to prevent potential diseases among humans and animals.