A comparative study of the parasites Cryptosporidium andersoni and Giardia duodenalis in feedlot cattle in Western Australia (n=502) and Alberta, Canada (n=852) was conducted. The objectives were to determine the prevalence, infection patterns and impact on cattle performance of these protozoan parasites. Utilizing molecular tools G. duodenalis was genotyped and C. andersoni samples were confirmed positive.
C. parvum was absent from all cattle sampled in Alberta, Canada and Western Australia, likely due to the advanced age of the cattle being sampled (6-36 months of age). No C. bovis or C. ryanae were observed in the study cattle.
C. andersoni was present in 25% of the groups of feedlot cattle sampled in Western Australia with a prevalence range of 0-26% and in all 3 of the Alberta, Canada study groups with a prevalence range of 2.9-12%. All three Alberta, Canada studies collected performance data, however, there was no significant difference between infected and non-infected steers ADG in the feedlot.
G. duodenalis was present in 83% of the groups sampled in Western Australia with prevalence ranging from 022% and all three study groups sampled in Alberta, Canada were positive with a prevalence ranging from 3982%. The prevalence of G. duodenalis is significantly higher in the Alberta, Canada studies as compared to the Western Australia studies, probably due to climatic factors.
Molecular characterization of a small number of the Alberta, Canada G. duodenalis positive samples (10) revealed 30% (3) genotype A, and 70% (7) genotype E. The same characterization of the Western Australia samples (10) showed 20%(2) genotype A, 40% (4) genotype E, 10% (1) genotype B, 10% (1) genotype C, 10% (1) genotype D and 10% (1) genotype B and E. Due to the unusual finding of genotypes C and D in cattle on such a small number of samples this result should be further studied to either confirm or refute the existence of genotypes C and D in cattle. Based on these results 30% of the animals from Alberta, Canada have the potential to be zoonoti (genotypes A and B) and 40% from the Western Australia studies.
The results of this study demonstrate that C. andersoni and G. duodenalis are prevalent in the study feedlot cattle in Western Australia and Alberta, Canada however the impact of these parasites was not negative on animal performance in the Alberta, Canada studies where it was measured.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/266236 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | brenda.ralston@gov.ab.ca, Brenda Jane Ralston |
| Publisher | Murdoch University |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | http://www.murdoch.edu.au/goto/CopyrightNotice, Copyright Brenda Jane Ralston |
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