[Oocysts from Cryptosporidium spp. isolated from cattle: pleomorfism in relationship to diagnosis methodology].

The aim of this study was to analyze the pleomorfism of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts isolated from calves feces throughout the comparison of two diagnostic techniques. One hundred of cattle feces were collected and the samples were submitted to both flotation sucrose centrifugation and to Ziehl-Neelsen modified tests. The results obtained showed a statistically significant reduction on the size of the Cryptosporidium oocysts observed through Ziehl-Neelsen technique when compared to the flotation sucrose centrifugation technique, and that the difference on the diameter of the oocysts suggests the there were different species of Cryptosporidium circulating in the animals analyzed.