CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS .2. AVIAN CRYPTOSPORIDI OSIS

Studies on cryptosporidiosis of birds look back only about 10 years of history. The best known species is C. baileyi, occurring in the intes tine, bursa of Fabricius, cloaca and respiratory tract of domestic chi ckens and other avian species. Endogenous stages multiply in the micro villous border of epithelial cells, resulting in a 2-3 week oocyst she dding. The occurrence is often complicated with non-infectious and inf ectious factors. Concurrent C. baileyi infection with chicken anaemia virus was recently detected in Hungary. The prevalence of avian crypto sporidiosis is certainly widespread but its zoonotic impact has not be en proved. The high resistance to many drugs so far tested, against ve rtebrate Cryptospordium species features also C. baileyi.