TY - JOUR
T1 - The prevalence of Cryptosporidium/Giardia in the trail horse population utilizing public lands in Colorado
AU - Forde, K. N.
AU - Swinker, A. M.
AU - Traub-Dargatz, J. L.
AU - Cheney, J. M.
N1 - Funding Information:
Authors' Addresses: Department of An=mal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1171, Acknowledgments: The authors would hke to acknowledge and thank Ms. Glenda Taton-AIlen for testing all 300 of the fecal samples; Denise Mitchell and Dana Ludutsky for assistance in reference gathering and fecal sample collection; and Richard, Jackie, and Darcie Forde and Todd Folle for endless hours of fecal sample collection and support. In addition, we would hke to thank the numerous commercial riding establishmentsa nd trail horse owners that participated in this study. This project was supported with funds provided by the Colorado State University Faculty Research Grant.
PY - 1998/1
Y1 - 1998/1
N2 - Cryptosporidium and Giardia spp. are small coccidian parasites that infect the intestinal tract of birds, reptiles and mammals including humans. Oocysts of Cryptosporidium parvum and cysts of Giardia duodenalis are shed in the feces of infected animals and directly infect subsequent hosts following ingestion. The broad host range, resistant nature, and small size of the parasites in the environment may potentially contribute to contamination of water supplies. The perception that recreational riding horses may increase the prevalence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in large watersheds adjacent to common trails, indirectly infecting humans, has resulted in banning recreational riding horses from some trails. However, there is currently no scientific data linking the recreational trail horse to the incidence or increased risk of human cryptosporidiosis or giardiasis. This survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia spp. in recreational horses utilizing trails located near large watershed areas in Colorado. At the trail heads, approximately 10 g of fresh feces were collected from recreational horses (n=300) that were utilizing the trails on the day they were sampled. Fecal samples were mixed with 10% formalin at a dilution rate of 1 part feces to 4 parts formalin and were transported to the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Colorado State University. Samples were evaluated using the Merifluor™ Cryptosporidium/Giardia Direct Immunofluorescent Detection Procedure. One horse (0.33%) was detected positive for Cryptosporidiurn and two horses (0.66%) were positive for Giardia. The low prevalence of Cryptosporidia and Giardia in the trail horse population surveyed indicates that the adult recreational trail horse population is not likely to be a significant source of Cryptosporidium and Giardia environmental contamination in watershed areas.
AB - Cryptosporidium and Giardia spp. are small coccidian parasites that infect the intestinal tract of birds, reptiles and mammals including humans. Oocysts of Cryptosporidium parvum and cysts of Giardia duodenalis are shed in the feces of infected animals and directly infect subsequent hosts following ingestion. The broad host range, resistant nature, and small size of the parasites in the environment may potentially contribute to contamination of water supplies. The perception that recreational riding horses may increase the prevalence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in large watersheds adjacent to common trails, indirectly infecting humans, has resulted in banning recreational riding horses from some trails. However, there is currently no scientific data linking the recreational trail horse to the incidence or increased risk of human cryptosporidiosis or giardiasis. This survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia spp. in recreational horses utilizing trails located near large watershed areas in Colorado. At the trail heads, approximately 10 g of fresh feces were collected from recreational horses (n=300) that were utilizing the trails on the day they were sampled. Fecal samples were mixed with 10% formalin at a dilution rate of 1 part feces to 4 parts formalin and were transported to the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Colorado State University. Samples were evaluated using the Merifluor™ Cryptosporidium/Giardia Direct Immunofluorescent Detection Procedure. One horse (0.33%) was detected positive for Cryptosporidiurn and two horses (0.66%) were positive for Giardia. The low prevalence of Cryptosporidia and Giardia in the trail horse population surveyed indicates that the adult recreational trail horse population is not likely to be a significant source of Cryptosporidium and Giardia environmental contamination in watershed areas.
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U2 - 10.1016/S0737-0806(98)80183-4
DO - 10.1016/S0737-0806(98)80183-4
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0032345302
SN - 0737-0806
VL - 18
SP - 38
EP - 40
JO - Journal of Equine Veterinary Science
JF - Journal of Equine Veterinary Science
IS - 1
ER -