Prevalence of Cryptosporidium and Eimeria in thoroughbred foals in the coast of the Lima Department

© 2000 Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. All rights reserved. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium and Eimeria in thoroughbred foals from Lima. During the months from August through December 1998, a total of369 fecal samples were collected at severa) breeding centers from suckling foals aged O to ?2 weeks. Direct fresh smears were fixed with methanol and processed using modified Zielh Neelsen stain for cryptosporidia diagnosis. For Eimeria, the samples were concentrated using Formalin-ether sedimentation and examined microscopically. Cryptosporidium prevalence was 48 ± 5% (176/369) with a corrected value of 55 ± 5%, and statistically significant differences were found among animals belonging to different age groups (P< 0.001). Six out ofthe 369 samples examined for Eimeria were positive (2 ± 1 %). None ofthe Cryptosporidium or Eimeria positive foals had diarrhea, and the two foals with diarrhea tested negative to both protozoa.