Investigations on cryptosporidiosis in humans and livestock from the same localities

The objective of this study was to Screen humans and farm animals from the same localities for Cryptosporidium infections. Coprological examinations u sing Ziehl-Neelsen staining and enzyme immunoassay included 68 faecal speci mens from calves, 16 from pigs, 86 from humans (76 from children, 4 from fa rmers, 6 from laboratory workers) and 4 samples of pigsty litter. Cryptospo ridium infections were found in 60 calves and 1 piglet. Morphometric charac teristics of the oocysts revealed that most infections were caused by C. pa rvum while only 2 calves were infected with C. muris. C. parvum oocysts wer e found in litter materials on two small privately-owned farms. The results of the study showed that despite the possible high level of exposure to C. parvum oocysts excreted by infected calves bred in the cooperative farm no children from the same locality were infected. The children were also free of ether intestinal protozoa. Similar results were obtained in the study p erformed on two small privately-owned farms. Although one piglet was infect ed with C. parvum on one of the farms and oocysts were found in litter mate rials on both farms, no farmers were infected.