Prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in sheep flocks with a history of lambs' diarrhoea

The aim of the present study was the investigation of 1) the possible interference of Cryptosporidium spp. in the cases of lambs' diarrhoea during the first 3-14 days of life and 2) the prevalence of this parasite in older animals, serving as reservoirs. Towards this end, faecal samples from 523 dairy sheep of local breeds from 31 flocks with a history of lambs' diarrhoea were examined (Ziehl - Neelsen method). Sampled animals were divided into 3 groups as follows: group A: lambs younger than 14 days (all sampled), group B: lambs older than 14 days and up to 30 days old (50% sampled) and group C: ewes >1.5 years old (10% sampled). 152 out of the 523 (29.06%) sheep were infected. In each group the percentages were: Group A: 114/207 (55.07%), Group B: 12/79 (15.18%) and Group C: 26/237 (10.97%). Only in 2 flocks oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. were not found in any of the sampled sheep in the different age groups. More precisely, the range of infected animals in each of the 31 flocks in total was 0-42%, while in each group was as follows: Group A: 0%-100%, Group B: 0%-22.2% and Group C: 0%-30%. Since Cryptosporidium spp. was prevalent in dairy sheep flocks, mainly in neonatal lambs, it is concluded that this parasite plays an important role in the diarrhoeic syndrome of lambs in Greece.