Detection of Cryptosporidium in Goats in Khartoum State, Sudan

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in goats in Khartoum State – Sudan. A total of 197 goats of both sexes and different ages (> 6 to <12 months) were surveyed in Omdurman locality (No =125) and Sherg Elneel locality (No =72). Faecal samples were randomly collected and classified according to their consistency as diarrhoeic or non-diarrhoeic. All samples were examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts using the Formol-Ether Concentration technique followed by modified Ziehl-Neelsen (MZN) staining method. Results obtained indicated that, the overall prevalence of infection was 20.8%. Infection was widely distributed among goads regardless of faeces consistency, sex, age or the Locality. It is concluded that asymptomatic adult goats are an important source of environmental contamination with Cryptosporidium spp. Formol-ether concentration technique followed by modified Ziehl-Neelsen (MZN) staining is useful and reliable for the diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis in faecal samples, and can be used as routine method for diagnosis and surveillances of this protozoan parasite in animal and human.