OCCURRENCE OF BLASTOCYSTIS SP IN CATTLE IN ARAGON, NORTHEASTERN SPAIN

The occurrence of Blastocystis sp, in cattle is reported herein for th e first time in Spain. Stool samples from 554 bovines ranging from 3 d ays old to adults collected from 30 cattle farms in Aragon (northeaste rn Spain) were concentrated by the formalin-ethyl acetate method and e xamined light microscopically for the presence of gastrointestinal par asites. Vacuolated cells of Blastocystis sp. were detected in fecal sp ecimens from 10 calves (1.8%) aged from 7 weeks to 6 months. Infected calves were detected at 3 of the 30 farms surveyed (10%). Blastocystis sp. cells were rounded or oval, with a diameter ranging from 6.25 to 15 mu m. Blastocystis infection in cattle was never con-elated with di arrhea, although infection intensities were generally low.