<div>Background: Cryptosporidiosis is the disease of zoonotic importance and is considered to be third major cause of diarrhoeal disease of calves worldwide causing significant economic losses. The present study aimed to link Cryptosporidium spp. infections in dairy calves with the management practices as a major risk factor.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Total 401 faecal samples from dairy calves were collected from eight large (100-1000 animals) and eight medium size (30-100 animals) dairy farms located in Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh, India). Cryptosporidium oocysts were identified in faeces by modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining (mZN) and formal ether concentration techniques.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. was 28.7% in dairy calves. A higher prevalence and risk of cryptosporidiosis was associated with large farms (24.9% vs. 3.74%, OR=1.96), intensive farming system (27.7% vs. 0.99%, OR=1.86), drinking ground water (27.7% vs. 0.99%, OR=1.86), dirty farms (16.7% vs. 11.6%, OR=1.90), presence of other animals at farm (15.9% vs. 12.7%, OR=1.36), absence of deworming (14.7% vs.13.9%, OR=5.09) and diarrhoea treatment practice (16.2% vs. 12.5%, OR=1.07). Multi-animal calving area, dirty calving pen and cemented floor were also identified as risk factors. Practices like feeding colostrum within one hour of birth, @ 10% b.wt./day, weaning the calves within 24 hrs and using detergent to wash feeding utensils decreased the risk of infection from 1.4 to 2 times. Calves kept confined with their dam had greater prevalence and risk of infection (17.2% vs. 11.5%, OR=5.20). The findings highlight that proactive managemental practices are beneficial for decreasing the environmental contamination and improving calf health.</div>

Dairy Farm Management Practices as Risk Factors Linked to Cryptosporidium spp. Infection in Dairy Calves

Background: Cryptosporidium spp. infection is one of the most common problems that occurs in kids under first month of life.The prevalence of Cryptosporidium may vary from farm to farm and region to region, depending upon herd size and animal husbandry practices.In India, although cryptosporidiosis had been reported in goat kids but Cryptosporidium spp. infection, risk factors and haematobiochemical alterations in goats&nbsp; of Madhya Pradesh are least known. 
 
Methods: A total of 290 goats d&rdquo;12 month of age belonging to unorganized goatry farms, situated in and around Rewa district of the Madhya Pradesh were attended and rectal contents were collected in 5 ml sterile screw capped plastic cryo vials during March 2023 to April 2024. The samples were screened for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in the faecal smear by modified Ziehl-Neelsen (mZN) method at Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science and A.H., Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. To determine the haemato-biochemical parameters, 5 ml of blood samples were collected in aseptic condition from goats included in the study. 
 
Results: Out of 290 samples, twenty six (8.96%, 26/290) cases were tested positive for the Cryptosporidium oocysts. The highest prevalence was observed in kids below 1 month of age (14.6%). The Prevalence of cryptosporidium spp. was found higher in female goats (10.20 %) than male. The prevalence was found highest in goats belonged to dam of first parity (14.28%). Haematological observations in Cryptosporidium infected goats showed significantly (p&lt;0.05) lowered haemoglobin, total erythrocyte count, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and lymphocyte percentage but significantly higher total leukocyte count, neutrophil and eosinophil percentage than the healthy goats. Biochemical studies revealed significant reduction in total serum protein, albumin and globulin values in the infected goats. 
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Prevalence, Risk Factors and Haemato-biochemical Alterations Associated with Naturally Occurring Cryptosporidium Spp. Infection in Goats

<div>Background: Cryptosporidium spp., together with enteropathogenic bacteria, induces diarrhea, which could cause the calf&rsquo;s death. This work aimed to evaluate the use of bacteriophages in calves infected with Cryptosporidium spp. upon their health, nutritional status and survival rate.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: A farm with calves infected with this protozoan was selected. For its control, decoquinate was used. Seventy-two pre-weaned calves, divided into two groups, were used. The treated group (n= 36) received 5 g of oral bacteriophages; the control group did not receive bacteriophages.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Result: The treated group had a higher survival rate (p=0.05) and fewer days with diarrhea (p=0.04). Also, diarrhea appeared earlier in the control group (p=0.03). A lower probability of receiving antibiotics treatment was observed in the treated group (OR = 0.05). Similarly, better results were obtained in the average daily gain (p=0.03), weight (p=0.01) and height (p=0.009). The supplementation with bacteriophages to calves infected with Cryptosporidium spp. improves the survival rate, delays the appearance of diarrhea, decreases days of diarrhea and reduces the use of antibiotics. In conclusion, using bacteriophages improves calves&rsquo; health and nutritional state.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>

Effect of the Administration of Bacteriophages to Calves Infected with Cryptosporidium spp. on the Health Status, Nutrition and Survival Rate

Background: Cryptosporidium species and Giardia duodenalis are important protozoan parasites due to their wide host range and potential as zoonotic diseases. These parasites, responsible for Cryptosporidiosis and Giardiasis, are significant health concerns and have garnered attention from both the public and veterinary fields. Pets, such as dogs and cats, are susceptible to these infections and play a crucial role in transmitting these protozoans to humans. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence, species, genotypes and zoonotic significance of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in asymptomatic adult stray cats and dogs.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Fecal samples from 75 adult stray animal, 42 dogs and 33 cats, were collected in Diyarbak&yacute;r city, southeastern Anatolia, Turkey. Direct immunofluorescence test was used to confirm the presence of G. duoenalis cysts and cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in collected fecal samples. Microscopic analysis was used to count the number of cysts/oocysts per gram as specified by the manufacturer. Molecular confirmation was done with Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using Giardia SSU-rDNA and Cryptosporidium spp. SSU rRNA gene. The secondary PCR products of all positive samples were sequenced in one directions on an automated sequencer. Nucleotide sequence analysis was performed by BLAST alignment using the National Center for Biotechnology Information database.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The prevalence of Cryptosporidium was 7.14% in 42 cats and 9.09% in 33 dogs. The prevalence of G. duodenalis was 23.80% in cats and 54.54% in dogs. The average number of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts per gram of cat and dog feces was 1866.3 and 1813.3, respectively. The average number of G. duodenalis cysts per gram of cat and dog feces was 1011.6 and 4786, respectively. All Cryptosporidium isolates were determined as C. canis in dogs and C. felis in cats. C. canis and C. felis isolates identified in the study, MT329018.1 and MN696800.1, AF159113.1 and KM977642.1 showed similarity with Genbank number, respectively. Assemblages A, E, C, D were found in dogs and assemblages A and E in cats in the result of the sequence of 130 bp gene fragments obtained from G. duodenalis isolates. This study sequence analysis of G. duodenalis cat isolates identified assemblages A (50%/10) and E (50%/10). In this study, assemblage E was the most common genotype isolated in dogs (38.8%), followed by Assemblage C (27.7%), Assemblage D (16.6%) and Assemblage A (15.5%). Assemblage A, which has zoonotic importance, was detected in cats and dogs, while assemblage E in cats and dogs was reported for the first time in Turkey.&nbsp;

Molecular Characterization and Zoonotic Significance of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in Asymptomatic Adult Stray Cats and Dogs in Turkey

Background: Cryptosporidium spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi are important enteric diarrheal pathogens commonly found in various animals and humans and have significant implications for public health. The purpose of present study was to investigate the prevalence, species and genotypes and zoonotic evaluation of the two parasitic pathogens in dogs and cats in Wenzhou, southern of China. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: 89 fecal samples collected from 51 dogs and 38 cats were used to investigate the positive rates of Cryptosporidium spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi using the nested polymerase chain reaction amplification on methods, species and genotypes of them were conformed by sequencing and alignment. 
&nbsp; 
Result: The positive rates of Cryptosporidium spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi were 7.8%(4/51), 17.6%(9/51) in dogs and 7.9%(3/38) ,10.5%(4/38) in cats, respectively. Sequence analysis revealed that Cryptosporidium canis, genotypes PtEb IX, CD9 and NED3 of E. bieneusi were confirmed in dogs, Cryptosporidium felis, Type IV in cats, respectively. C canis, C. felis and Type IV of E. bieneusi genotype belong to the zoonotic pathogens.The zoonotic species/genotype of these two pathogens identified in pets in this study indicated the potential zoonotic risk in pets-to- humans transmission. The effective interventions should be taken to prevent the spread of these enteric zoonotic pathogens. 
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Occurrence and Zoonotic Evaluation of Cryptosporidium spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Dogs and Cats in Wenzhou, Southern China

<div>Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment for the diarrhea due to Cryptosporidium, which is prevalent in lambs, via the concentrations of Serum Amyloid A (SAA) and Haptoglobin (Hp). Although there are experimental studies in this field, there are quite a few studies on the lambs which are infected naturally. 
 
Methods: In this study, stool samples were collected from the lambs that were affected with diarrhea and Cryptosporidium was detected via the rapid test kit (Bio-X Diagnostics S.A. Rochefort/Belgium). Following this procedure, 15 lambs were included in the study by examining same stool samples microscopically and 50 mg/kg of paromomycin sulphate (Huvepharma) was administered to the lambs in which Cryptosporidium spp. was detected for five days as a treatment. 10 healthy lambs formed the control group. Blood samples were taken from all lambs to measure SAA and Hp in the pre and post treatment stages. In the serums obtained from blood samples, concentrations of SAA and Hp were measured in ELISA by using commercial kits.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Result: In the lambs with Cryptosporidium, concentrations of SAA and HP were as (SAA; 20,62&plusmn;4,83 ng/mL HP; 2,63&plusmn;0,77 &micro;g/mL) in pre-treatment and as (SAA;12,93&plusmn;3,27 ng/mL, Hp; 1,59&plusmn;0,73 &micro;g/mL) in post-treatment stage while they were as (SAA;10,07&plusmn;2,49 ng/mL, Hp; 1,03&plusmn;0,59 &micro;g/mL) in the control group. In the pre and post treatment stage measurements, a statistically significant difference (p&lt;0,05) in the values of SAA and Hp was found between the control group and the lambs wit diarrhea due to Cryptosporidium. It was suggested that this might have occurred as a result of&nbsp; inflammatory response against Cryptosporidium. In the light of these findings, it is asserted that routine measurements of SAA and Hp concentrations of the lambs with diarrhea due to cryptosporidiosis could be beneficial in the following up the treatment, determining the severity of the infection, choosing the right method for treatment and monitoring the efficacy of the chosen treatment method and in detecting subclinical diseases in veterinary medicine.&nbsp;</div>

Evaluating the Efficacy of the Treatment in Lambs with Cryptosporidium spp. via Saa and Haptoglobin

<div style="text-align: justify;">Prevalence and molecular characterisation of Cryptosporidium species was done in kids belonging to organised and non-organised goat farms at Jabalpur. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium was 14.63%. The prevalence was non-significantly higher in male kids (16.16%) as compared to that of female kids (13.21%). Age wise prevalence was higher in kids up to one month age (16.13%) than that of kids upto 3 months age (13.99%). No significant difference was found in prevalence among different breeds and in kids kept in farm or field conditions. The prevalence was non-significantly higher in non-diarrhoeic kids than diarrhoeic kids. Most of the infections were of one score (76.6%). Molecular characterisation by PCR-RFLP of 18S SSU rRNA gene revealed presence of Cryptosporidium parvum species in positive faecal samples.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div>

Prevalence and molecular characterisation of Cryptosporidium spp. in goat kids&nbsp; &nbsp;

<div>Abortion is the major reproductive problem in goats faced by goat-keepers. Abortion in animals including goats is caused mainly by infectious agents. The current study was planned to assess the presence of Brucella melitensis, Chlamydophila spp., Campylobacter spp., Brucella abortus and Coxiella burnetii in the genital tracts of goats and foetal stomach contents. A total of 260 biological samples (vaginal/preputial secretions and foetal stomach contents) were randomly collected from the goats. The genomic DNA extraction from the samples was done by using the commercial kit. The detection of the targeted infectious agents in the biological samples was done by species as well as genus-specific polymerase chain reactions. Standardization of PCRs was done using gradient PCR. The PCR products were run in a 1% agarose gel to determine the gene size. Out of 260 samples, the presence of Coxiella burnetii was not detected in any sample. Brucella abortus was detected in two aborted goats. Only 10 samples out of 260 (6 vaginal swabs from the aborted goats and 4 foetal stomach contents) were found positive for Brucella melitensis. A total of 117 samples were found positive for Chlamydophila spp., whereas 84 were found positive for Campylobacter spp. A total of 63 samples were found positive for both Chlamydophila spp. and Campylobacter spp. The present study concludes that Chlamydophila and Campylobacter spp. were found as the prevalent microbial agents, which may be associated with abortion in goats in the forthcoming pregnancies in adverse conditions.</div>

Molecular Detection of Brucella melitensis, Chlamydophila spp., Campylobacter spp., Brucella abortus and Coxiella burnetii in Genital Tracts of Goats

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: The Pleurotus genus is one of the most investigated white-rot fungus due to its excellent ligninolytic characteristics. It is a tasty mushroom that also has a number of biological impacts due to the presence of essential bioactive compounds. Many usual fermentation parameters affect lignocellulolytic enzymes in basidiomycete fungi, such as medium composition, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, pH, temperature, air composition etc. The survival and multiplication of Pleurotus mushrooms is dependent on a number of factors, which may function independently or interactive effect on the growth of mushroom. Grasp the difficulty of treating Pleurotus species mushrooms necessitates a fundamental understanding of their physical, chemical and biological characteristics.</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">Methods:&nbsp; In this study, the effects of culture media, temperature, carbon sources, nitrogen sources, grain sources and agricultural waste as lignocellulosic substrate on the mycelium growth of five species of Pleurotus species for spawn production were studied. Several trials were designed to evaluate factors affecting mycelium growth of five oyster mushroom species. The experiments were conducted during October to February in the year 2019 to 2021. The experiments were carried out in three replications per treatment. 
Result: The results of the experiment indicated that potato dextrose agar (PDA) and Malt extract agar (MEA) were the most suitable media for the mycelium growth of all oyster mushrooms. The optimal temperature for mycelium growth of all the oyster mushroom species was obtained at 25&plusmn;2oC. Mycelium growth of all the studied oyster mushroom was improved by carbon sources such as dextrose and glucose. The nitrogen source such as ammonium chloride and ammonium sulfate also gave the greatest values in mycelium colony diameter of mushroom. Wheat was found to be favourable for mycelium growth of all the oyster mushroom species. In addition, paddy straw and sugarcane residue were selected as suitable lignocellulosic substrate sources for mycelium growth of all the studied oyster mushrooms.</div>

The Effect of Growth Conditions on Mycelial Run of Oyster Mushrooms spp. (Pleurotus spp.): Implication for Agricultural Practices

<div style="text-align: justify;">A sum total of 402 faecal samples from buffalo calves belonging to the age group of three months were collected randomly without any clinical symptom from various livestock farms and small holdings in four districts of Haryana. The presence or absence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in faecal samples was confirmed by the standard microscopic examination of the modified Ziehl-Neelsen (MZN) stained faecal smears. The overall prevalence in buffalo calves was found to be 8.7%. The seasonal prevalence study revealed a maximum occurrence of Cryptosporidium infection during rainy followed by autumn, winters and minimum in summer season. Age related prevalence showed highest infection in calves between 16-30 days age which gradually decreased with increase in age. The DNA of representative positive faecal samples was extracted using standard phenol-chloroform-isoamylalcohol (PCI) method and then was subjected to nested PCR. All the extracted DNA were amplified for a 1325 bp primary fragment followed by a 834 bp nested fragment in a nested PCR of 18S rRNA gene, thereby confirming the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. The restricted enzyme digestion pattern (restricted fragment length polymorphism) of the 834 bp nested fragment using the restriction enzymes SspI and VspI confirmed the presence of C. parvum. Sequencing of Cryptosporidium DNA samples were carried out which also proved all samples to be of C. parvum. This is the first report of molecular identification of C. parvum in buffalo calves of Haryana and these Haryana isolates of Cryptosporidium parvum isolated from diarrhoeic buffalo calves are divergently related to rest of the part of the country isolates and indicates the zoonotic potential.</div>