MAGNITUDE OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM INFECTION AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG DAIRY CALVES IN HARAR AND DIRE DAWA CITIES AND HARAMAYA DISTRICT, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Cryptosporidium is a parasitic protozoa that can cause diarrhea in dairy calves, especially in the first month of life. A cross-sectional study design was conducted from January 2024 to October 2024 G.C. to estimate the magnitude of Cryptosporidium infection and its associated factors among dairy calves in Harar and Dire Dawa cities and Haramaya district, Eastern Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to estimate the magnitude of Cryptosporidium infections and their associated factors in dairy calves. Feacal sample of calves (n = 360) with age groups ranging from two weeks to 12 months was collected from 30 dairy farms. All samples were processed using the modified Ziehl–Neelsen staining method. A well-structured questionnaire was administered to collect data on associated risk factors of infection. The intensity of shedding Cryptosporidium oocysts was semiquantitatively estimated according to the average number of oocysts. The overall magnitude of Cryptosporidium infection in dairy calves was 13.6% (95% CI, 18.6-79.5). The farm-level magnitude of Cryptosporidium oocyst shedding in calves was 43.3% (95% CI, 25.4-62.5). Multivariate logistic regression showed that calves raised in group pens were 4 times more likely to become infected than those raised in individual pens (P=0.024). Urban farms showed a 3 times higher risk of contracting the infection than farms in Peri-urban areas (P=0.02). Cryptosporidium infection in dairy farm calves 2 weeks-3 months of age was 5 times more likely higher than those >7-12 months (P=0.003). More specifically, the odds of having diarrhea due to Cryptosporidium infection in calves were 7 times greater than in calves with normal fecal consistency (P=0.01). The magnitude of Cryptosporidium infection was high in the dairy farms studied. Therefore, more studies are needed in detail on the magnitude and risk factors that are essential to evaluate the impact of infection on the health and productivity of the calf.