[Cryptosporidium spp. in farms in the eastern region of Venezuela].

Cryptosporidiosis is caused by the coccidian protozoa Cryptosporidium. It is the most worldwide prevalent pathogen associated with diarrhea in young cattle and usually is caused by C. parvum which is also responsible of infections in humans, specially in immunocompromised patients. Faecal samples from 75 young cattle aged between 2 to 20 weeks, were collected in four Western Dairy farms of Venezuela and screened for the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts. Positive samples were detected in 22 animals (29.3%). Results of this current study demonstrate that Cryptosporidium spp. is frequently involved in the aetiology of calf neonatal diarrhea in this region, and adults carriers seem to play an important role as a source of infection.