PREVALENCE OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM INFECTION IN CATTLE IN MAIDUGURI, NORTH EASTERN NIGERIA.

A study was carried out to survey the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in cattle in Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria. A total of four hundred (400) fecal samples from cattle were randomly collected and examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts using the modified Ziehl-Neelsen (MZN) staining method. The results showed that the overall prevalence of infection was 22.3%, with an infection rate of23.4% in adult cattle and 19.1% in young cattle, respectively. There was no statistical significant difference (P<0.05) between the age groups, with (OR: 1.298; 95%CI: 0.7507-2.245). Out of 89 positive samples, 21.2% were male and 25.0% were female, respectively. There was no statistical significant difference (P>0.05) between the sex, with (OR: 0.8062; 95% CI: 0.4828-0.346). It was concluded that Cryptosporidium sp. infection is prevalent in Nigeria; and cattle could serve as reservoirs for the zoonotic infection in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]