A cryptosporidium sp in an ostrich
Penrith, M.L.; Burger, W.P.
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association 64(2): 60-61
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 1019-9128 PMID: 8410943 Document Number: 410956
Intestinal Cryptosporidium spp. infection is reported in farmed ostrich chicks in South Africa. The possible significance, diagnosis and control of cryptosporidiosis are briefly discussed. A small intestine sample from a 4-week ostrich chick was shown to have small basophilic spherical organisms, 3-4 micro m in diameter, and morphologically and ultrastructurally identical with Cryptosporidium, present in the brush border of the surface epithelium as well as that of the crypts. Tissue from the rectum was also shown to possess the same organisms. Mild pathological changes, including lymphocytic infiltration of the lamina propria and epithelial and crypt hypertrophy was associated with the infection. The exact species of Cryptosporidium was not identified.