Vet Med - Czech, 2025, 70(2):68-76 | DOI: 10.17221/82/2024-VETMED

Prevalence and risk factors of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia infestation in cattle and in broiler chickens in AlgeriaOriginal Paper

R Baazizi1, M Taibi2, N Senouci1, D Baroudi1, S Khodja1, R Belala ORCID...3,4, D Khelef2, N Mimoune ORCID...2,3,4
1 HASAQ Laboratory, Higher National Veterinary School, Algiers, Algeria
2 Animal Health and Production Laboratory (SPA), Higher National Veterinary School, Algiers, Algeria
3 Biotechnologies Platform for Animal Medicine and Reproduction (BIOMERA), Saad Dahleb Blida University, Blida, Algeria
4 Biotechnologies Laboratory Related to Animal Reproduction (LBRA), Institute of Veterinary Sciences, Saad Dahleb, Blida University, Blida, Algeria

Cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis are zoonotic protozoan diseases with significant public health and economic concerns. In Algeria, epidemiological data on these parasites in livestock are limited. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia in dairy calves and broiler chickens and to identify the associated risk factors. A microscopic analysis of 200 faecal samples revealed a Cryptosporidium spp. prevalence of 56% in calves and 60% in broiler chickens, while the Giardia prevalence was 8% in calves and absent in chickens. In cattle, the data showed that age constituted a potential risk factor for both parasites (P < 0.000 1 for Cryptosporidium; P < 0.000 5 for Giardia). Interestingly, the risk of a Cryptosporidium infection decreased with age, while the Giardia infestation risk increased. The sex was not a significant factor for Cryptosporidium (P = 0.115 0), but was impactful for Giardia (P < 0.000 1), with males at higher risk. These results highlighted the distinct epidemiological characteristics of Cryptosporidium and Giardia infestations in Algerian livestock. The contrasting age-related risks and sex-specific susceptibility to Giardia underline the need for targeted, age and sex prevention strategies. This study provides valuable data to inform public health policies and to improve livestock management practices in Algeria, contributing to the wider understanding of these zoonotic parasites in North African agricultural farming.

Keywords: broiler chickens; calves; giardiasis; prevalence; risk factors cryptosporidiosis

Received: September 11, 2024; Revised: January 5, 2025; Accepted: January 17, 2025; Prepublished online: February 24, 2025; Published: February 26, 2025  Show citation

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Baazizi R, Taibi M, Senouci N, Baroudi D, Khodja S, Belala R, et al.. Prevalence and risk factors of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia infestation in cattle and in broiler chickens in Algeria. Vet Med - Czech. 2025;70(2):68-76. doi: 10.17221/82/2024-VETMED.
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