Cryptosporidiosis in lambs:clinico-biochemical studies

Abstract EN

Eighty newborn lambs aged up to 2 months on Sakha farm were investigated.

Have there 50 lambs suffered from diarrhea and 30 were apparently healthy.

Prevalence of cryptosporidiosis was 50% among the examined lambs.

Prevalence of cryptosporidiosis was 50% among the examined lambs.

Prevalence was higher in neonatal lambs having diarrhea (72%) in comparison with non diarrheic lambs (13.3%).

Diarrheic lambs aged 1-15 days showed the highest prevalence (80%) compare to ratio of 66.6% and 60% in lambs aged 11-30 days and 1-2 months, respectively.

Zheil-Neelsen stained fecal smears revealed cryptosporidial oocysts which were spherical to sub spherical in shape, measuring 5-7μ in diameter with densely stained red bodies within a clear halo on a green background.

The most important clinical signs observed were weakness, moderate to severe diarrhea, anorexia, variable degree of dehydration and severe emaciation.

In diarrheic lambs, a significant decrease in the mean values of blood serum sodium, chloride and glucose levels were reported.

Diarrheic lambs exhibited hyperkalaemia in comparison with non diarrheic ones.

Blood serum total protein was significantly decreased in diarrheic (cryptosporidia infected or non-infected) in comparison with non-diarrheic (cryptosporidia infected or non-infected) lambs.

γ-globulin showed significantly lower values in diarrheic than non-diarrheic where infected or non-infected lambs while α and β-globulins were non significantly lower in diarrheic than in non-diarrheic lambs