The Age-Related Cryptosporidium Species Distribution in Asymptomatic Cattle from North-Western SPAIN

An age-related distribution of species has been reported in cattle, with being predominant in suckling calves, and being predominant in post-weaned calves and being predominant in adults. However, variants to this pattern have recently been reported. Thus, fecal samples (n = 594) from asymptomatic cattle were collected in north-western Spain. Animals were classified as 2 years (G5). detection and species identification were performed by SSU rRNA PCR. Individual prevalence was 16.7%; it significantly decreased with age. was predominant in G1 and was predominant in the rest of the age classes; and were especially prevalent in G2 and G3. was not found in suckling calves. Finally, and were occasionally detected in G5. The presence of in all age classes implies significant animal and public health concerns. The predominance of in cattle older than 1 month supports the idea that the age-related pattern of species described in cattle is not fully consistent, and thus further studies are still needed to identify those factors determining the species distribution.