Faecal shedding of cryptosporidium oocysts in goats in Nsukka, Enugu State: a potential threat to man

Abstract

Cryptosporidiosis is one of the most important diseases in young ruminants causing diarrhoea in neonates and immune-compromised animals leading to substantial economic losses both directly and indirectly in animals and animal products and also imposing public health threats as a zoonotic disease. This study aimed at investigating the occurrence of cryptosporidium oocyst in goats in Nsukka metropolis to facilitate further studies on the zoonotic transmission of the disease agent. Faecal samples were collected from household WAD goats from three randomly selected villages in Nsukka L.G.A of Enugu State. A total of 100 goats were purposively sampled, and faecal samples were collected par rectum using disposable latex gloves and transported to the Veterinary Parasitology laboratory, University of Nigeria, Nsukka for further analysis. Faecal samples were concentrated using the Formol-ether concentration method and cryptosporidium oocysts were detected using a modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique. The sample was considered positive when at least one oocyst with the correct morphologic characters was observed. Data obtained were analysed using the Chi-square test and the differences in the prevalence of cryptosporidium oocysts within each variable (Age, sex, and stool consistency) were compared. A probability of less than 0.05 was considered significant. The overall prevalence of cryptosporidium oocysts was 24%. There was a significant association between the prevalence of cryptosporidium oocysts and the sex of the goats sampled, while there were no significant associations between the prevalence of cryptosporidium oocysts and the age of the goats sampled and consistency of the faeces. The wide presence of these oocysts is of public health significance as apparent healthy goats were also shedding the oocysts. Efforts should be directed towards improving our management systems in order to prevent the menace of the public health threat. Further studies are recommended to provide evidence for other sources and factors that might influence cryptosporidiosis in the area.