Prevalence of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> infection in slaughtered cattle at Lafenwa Municipal Abattoir, Ogun State

Abstract

The prevalence of Cryptosporidium in slaughtered cattle at a municipal abattoir in Ogun State was determined by acid-fast staining of stools. Using formalin ethyl acetate sedimentation followed by modified kinyoun’s acid fast staining of 280 faecal samples collected, 105 (37.5%) were positive for Cryptosporidium oocysts. Infection was higher in females and nondiarrhoeic cattle than males and diarrhoeic animals respectively. However, there were no statistical differences (p>0.05) between the sexes and stool consistencies in Cryptosporidium infection. The highest infection rate, 51.2%, was recorded in the Red Bororo breed while the lowest rate, 17.0%, was recorded in the Sokoto Gudali breed. This study showed that cattle slaughtered at the abattoir were mostly infected with Cryptosporidium which may have serious economic, veterinary, and public health implications to beef consumers, abattoir, and farm workers within the state.