Cryptosporidial diarrhea in foals
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abstract
Cryptosporidial diarrhea, which can develop in immunocompromised or immunocompetent patients, may be an underdiagnosed condition in foals. The condition is most often recognized as diarrheal disease in lambs and calves. The magnitude of the problem probably varies from year to year and from farm to farm and is not yet clearly defined. In foals, clinical signs vary according to age and immune status. Reports of cryptosporidial disease in foals have been limited to the gastrointestinal tract and related organs. In veterinary laboratories, the commonly used diagnostic techniques are flotation of oocysts, acid-fast staining of oocysts, and immunofluorescence assay to detect oocysts. Recognition of the disease may be enhanced by the submission of multiple fecal samples for diagnosis and by the availability of simple, reliable commercial test kits designed for use by practitioners. Currently, no treatment has been conclusively demonstrated to be effective in managing cryptosporidial diarrhea in foals.
