Detection of IgG antibodies to Cryptosporidium parvum using Eimeria tenella and Cryptosporidium parvum antigens

This paper describes and compares the use of Cryptosporidium parvum and Eimeria tenella oocyst antigens in application of enzyme linked immnosorbent assay (ELISA). The optical density (OD) mean value for positive cryptosporidium sera with two antigens of Eimeria and Cryptosporidium were 0.476 and 0.310, respectively and sensitivity of both antigens was 100%. Cryptosporidium infection was detected in 79 (57%) cattle out of 137 fecal samples examined microscopically. The seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to Cryptosporidium parvum by using antigens of either Cryptosporidium or Eimeria were correlated with oocysts excretion. It is concluded that Eimeria antigen may be used for rapid screening of Cryptosporidium in calf diarrhea.