The Incidence of Cryptosporidial Infections in Nebraska Dairy Calves

Authors

Douglas Lee Varner, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Document Type

Thesis

Date of this Version

7-1986

Citation

Thesis (M.S.)—University of Nebraska—Lincoln, 1986. Department of Veterinary Science.

Comments

Copyright 1986, the author. Used by permission.

A public access copy is available at

http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vetscidiss/16

Abstract

Within the last decade a new etiologic agent has been identified as a possible cause of diarrhea in humans and domestic animals—that being the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and distribution of Cryptosporidium in the state of Nebraska, to determine if Cryptosporidium occurs more frequently in association with other enteropathogens and to determine about the relation of scouring in the calves to infection with Cryptosporidium. A total of 620 fecal samples from 334 dairy calves from 71 herds in Nebraska were examined for cyptosporidial oocysts using the Sheather’s sugar flotation technique. Results of this study suggest an association between infection with Crypstosporidium and scouring.

Advisor: Donald L. Ferguson.