Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Cryptosporidiosis Infections in Some Swine Farms in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia

摘要

The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of Cryptosporidium infection in different age groups of pigs (piglets, weaners and adult pigs) in farms found in Debre Zeit. A cross sectional study design was employed in order to investigate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium parasite in intensively managed pigs belonging to different volunteer farms found in Debre-Zeit. The Sheather centrifugal flotation methods followed by Modified Ziehl Neelsen staining technique were used for the detection of Cryptosporidium parasite. A total of 384 fecal samples collected from pig were examined for the detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium was found to be 9.9% (38/384). The findings of the present study disclosed that prevalence of Cryptosporidium among pigs to be age dependent. Accordingly, piglets were found to have the highest prevalence share. Out of 120 faecal samples examined from piglets, 21.67% (26/120) were positive for cryptosporidium oocysts. Similarly, 7.35% (10/136) and % 1.56% (2/128) of weaner pigs and adult pigs were Cryptosporidium oocyst positive, respectively. The study also revealed that there was statistically significant (P 0.05) with the prevalence of Cryptosporidium. This study revealed that cryptosporidiosis causes a significant loss in the production of pigs. Further investigation is required in order to identify the prevailing Cryptosporidium species in pigs as well as other domestic animals using molecular techniques.