Asymptomatic shedding of Cryptosporidium oocysts by red deer hinds and calves

Levels of Cryptosporidium infection in a group of red deer were monitored o ver a period of I year. Faecal samples were examined on an approximate mont hly basis from adult hinds and calves for the presence of Cryptosporidium o ocysts. The water-ether sedimentation method followed by sucrose flotation and a monoclonal antibody identification procedure were used. It was found that apparently healthy adult deer were shedding low numbers of oocysts in their faeces throughout the year and that there appeared to be a peripartur ient increase in the numbers of oocysts shed. Samples taken from 6-month-ol d deer calves, both in-house and on pasture, had low numbers of Cryptospori dium oocysts, indicating that the calves were also asymptomatically sheddin g oocysts. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.