SEASONAL DYNAMICS OF CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS IN CALVES IN THE STAVROPOL TERRITORY

Abstract

Cryptosporidiosis in calves is an acute protozoal disease, the causative
agent of which is the protozoan of the genus Cryptosporidium, the parasitism of which in the
body is noted already on the first days of life, and is accompanied by intractable diarrhea, severe dehydration of the body and, as a result, the death of the animal a few days after infection. The aim of the research was to establish the seasonal dynamics of cryptosporidiosis in
calves in the Stavropol Territory. The studies were carried out in 2020-2021 on livestock
farms of agricultural cooperative “Collective farm named after Voroshilov” of the Novoalexandrovsky District of the Stavropol Territory. It was found that in winter the prevalence of
invasion on farms was in the range of 30-35 %, with low infection intensity (+). In MarchApril, a simultaneous increase in the prevalence and intensity of invasion begins – on Commercial dairy farm No. 4 within 50-60 % with an average infection rate (++), and on Commercial dairy farm No. 3 within 65-80 % with already a high degree of infection in animals (
+++). This increase is explained by the beginning of mass calving, a large number of newborn
calves, as a result of which the parasites content in the indoor space increases. The warm season, favorable for the survival of oocysts, as well as the outbreak of flies – the carriers of
cryptosporidium, contributes to an increase in both the prevalence and intensity of invasion on
farms – on Commercial dairy farm No. 3 up to 90 % with a high degree of infection (+++),
and on Commercial dairy farm No. 4 maintaining the incidence rate at the level of the spring
months. In autumn, the prevalence and intensity of cryptosporidium invasion of calves decreases, but not dramatically, which can be explained by the recent presence of flies and increased content of oocysts in the indoor space, as well as the presence of migrating rodents
from the fields – carriers of cryptosporidium. The difference in the intensity of invasion on
farms, it would seem with the same diet and maintenance of adult livestock, the scheme of
colostrum feeding, is explained by the difference in compliance of veterinary and sanitary requirements in livestock facilities.