Prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in dairy calves in Kerman, southeastern Iran

Faecal samples from 291 dairy calves from 10 dairy herds in Kerman were examined to investigate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection. Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were identified by using the modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique in 63 (21.65%) calves. Calves were grouped according to their age as follows: 3 months, 3-6 months and 6-9 months. Cryptosporidium infection was detected in 28.2, 20.6 and 15.09%, of the calves in the respective age groups. A significant age-associated decrease in the detection rate of Cryptosporidium infection (P 0.05) was found. Cryptosporidium infection was detected in II of the 30 (36.66%) diarrhoeic and 52 of the 261 (19.92%) non-diarrhoeic calves. There was a significantly (P 0.05) higher prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in diarrhoeic than in non-diarrhoeic calves.