Open AccessG iardia and C ryptosporidium on Dairy Farms and the Role these Farms May Play in Contaminating Water Sources in P rince E dward I sland, C anada
Author(s) -
BuduAmoako E.,
Greenwood S.J.,
Dixon B.R.,
Barkema H.W.,
McClure J.T.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of veterinary internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1939-1676
pISSN - 0891-6640
DOI - 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.00930.x
Subject(s) - feces , zoology , herd , veterinary medicine , water buffalo , dairy cattle , surface water , biology , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , environmental engineering , environmental science
Background Cattle represent a reservoir for G iardia and C ryptosporidium and may contaminate water sources. Objectives To determine the distribution of C ryptosporidium and G iardia on dairy farms and in water bodies near the farms. Farms and Water Sources Twenty dairy farms and 20 wells and 13 surface water samples associated with dairy farms. Methods Proportions of samples positive for C ryptosporidium or G iardia were determined by a direct immunofluorescence assay. Fecal and water samples were taken at different times. Results Thirty‐two (95% CI : 29–35%) and 14% (95% CI : 12–17%) of fecal samples, and 100 (95% CI : 96–100) and 55% (95% CI : 32–77%) of herds, were positive for G iardia and C ryptosporidium , respectively. G iardia duodenalis assemblage E was detected in high proportions (90%) of fecal samples. C ryptosporidium bovis predominated (51%) in all cattle. C. andersoni predominated in adult cattle (53%), whereas the predominant species in animals < 2 months and 2–6 months was C. bovis, respectively. Only calves < 2 months of age were positive for C. parvum . In 46% (95% CI : 19–75%) and 85% (95% CI : 55–98%) of surface water, concentrations of G iardia cysts and C ryptosporidium oocysts were higher in downstream, than in upstream, locations of farms, whereas only 1 groundwater sample was positive for C ryptosporidium . Conclusions This sample of dairy cattle was predominantly infected with nonzoonotic species and genotypes of C ryptosporidium , G iardia , or both. More studies are needed to determine if the presence of G iardia or C ryptosporidium in surface water was associated with shedding in animals from nearby farms.