11/9/21, 5:42 PM Cryptosporidiosis in Chickens

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Cryptosporidiosis
Other Names: Avian Cryptosporidiosis
Cryptosporidiosis is the name of the disease caused by infection with protozoan parasites of
the genus Cryptosporidium. It manifests as either a respiratory or gastrointestinal disease,
depending on the site of infection.

There are many species of Cryptosporidium that infect a wide range of animal species, including
humans. The following Cryptosporidium species have been reported to infect chickens:
Cryptosporidium baileyi: Infects the Bursa of Fabricius, conjunctiva, kidneys, respiratory
tract, cloaca, or rectum. Found worldwide and in a wide range of bird species.
Cryptosporidium meleagridis: Infects the small and large intestines. Found in
Columbiformes, Galliformes, Passeriformes, and Psittaciformes worldwide.
Cryptosporidium galli: Infects the proventriculus. Affects chickens in Asia, Europe, Oceania,
and South America. Found in Bucerotiformes, Galliformes, Passeriformes, Psittaciformes,
and Phoenicopteriformes.
Cryptosporidium andersoni: Affects chickens and other Galliformes in Europe.
Cryptosporidium parvum: Infects the small intestine or caecum. Found in Accipitriformes,
Anseriformes, Charadriiformes, Galliformes, Passeriformes, and Psittaciformes in Asia,
Europe, and the Americas.
How Chickens get Cryptosporidiosis
Chickens become infected by ingesting Cryptosporidium oocysts excreted in the feces and
surrounding environment, from an infected host. The host doesn't need to be a chicken. Many
other species of birds can be infected hosts. Oocysts are capable of surviving outside their host
for long periods of time (often greater than 6 months duration) in cool, moist environments,
especially water sources.

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How Cryptosporidiosis is Diagnosed

Cryptosporidium is detected in the conjunctiva, sinus, trachea, lungs, kidneys, small and large
intestine, cloaca, and bursa of Fabricius in chickens.

Clinical Signs
Diarrhea
Paleness
Weight loss
Ruffled feathers
Sneezing
Nasal and eye discharge
Swollen sinuses
Difficulty breathing
Coughing
Extending neck
Reluctance to move
Increased respiratory sounds (rales)
Undigested food in droppings
Depression
Diagnosis Reported Cases Treatment
Name Summary
Supportive Isolate the bird from the flock and place in a safe, comfortable, warm
care location (your own chicken "intensive care unit") with easy access to
water and food. Limit stress. Call your veterinarian.
Paramomycin 100 mg/kg administered orally every 12 hours K
Marx

Support

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Prevention
 ()Good sanitary practices
 ()Place water sources higher up to help prevent feces from contaminating the water
source.
 ()Prevent birds flying overhead from contaminating water sources with their feces.
 ()Prevent exposure to wild birds.

Scientific References
1L.R. McDougald Cryptosporidiosis. Diseases of Poultry, 13th Edition (2020)
2Vermeulen, Lucie C., et al.. Cryptosporidium concentrations in rivers worldwide
(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2018.10.069) Water research 149 (2019)
3Squire, Sylvia Afriyie, and Una Ryan. Cryptosporidium and Giardia in Africa: current and
future challenges (https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-017-2111-y) Parasites & vectors 10.1
(2017)
4Helmy, Yosra A., et al. Molecular diagnosis and characterization of Cryptosporidium
spp. in turkeys and chickens in Germany reveals evidence for previously undetected
parasite species ( https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0177150) PloS one 12.6 (2017)
5Watson, A. M., Jenkins, T. L., & Rissi, D. R. Pathology in Practice. Journal of the American
Veterinary Medical Association, 251(11), 1253-1255. (2017)
6Ewald, Maria Paula de Carvalho, et al. The first study of molecular prevalence and
species characterization of Cryptosporidium in free-range chicken (Gallus gallus
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11/9/21, 5:42 PM Cryptosporidiosis in Chickens

domesticus) from Brazil (http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s1984-29612017068 ) Revista

Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária 26.4 (2017)
7Hauck, Rüdiger Interactions Between Parasites and the Bacterial Microbiota of Chickens.
Avian diseases 61.4 (2017)
8Samie, A., A. H. Hlungwani, and P. A. Mbati. Prevalence and risk factors of
Cryptosporidium species among domestic animals in rural communities in Northern
South Africa. Tropical Biomedicine 34.3 (2017)
9Churria, Carlos D. Gornatti, et al. Tracheitis in a broiler chicken flock caused by dual
infection with Cryptosporidium spp.(Apicomplexa: Cryptosporiidae) and non-hemolytic
Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale. Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Pathology 5.2 (2017)
10Ferrari, Elis Domingos, et al. . Cryptosporidium spp. in caged exotic psittacines from
Brazil: Evaluation of diagnostic methods and molecular characterization
(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exppara.2017.12.004) Experimental parasitology (2017)
11Hijjawi N, Mukbel R, Yang R, Ryan U.. Genetic characterization of Cryptosporidium in
animal and human isolates from Jordan.
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27692311) Vet Parasitol (2016)
12Yang Y, Xue X, Yang Y, Chen X, Du A.. Efficacy of a potential DNA vaccine encoding
Cryptosporidium baileyi rhomboid protein against homologous challenge in chickens.
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27369569) Vet Parasitol. (2016)
13Nakamura, Alex Akira, and Marcelo Vasconcelos Meireles. . Cryptosporidium infections
in birds-a review (https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-29612015063 ) Revista Brasileira de
Parasitologia Veterinária 24.3 (2015)
14Dresely I, Daugschies A, Lendner M.. Establishment of a germ carrier assay to assess
disinfectant efficacy against oocysts of coccidian parasites.
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25339515) Parasitol Res. (2015)
15Yuan L, Yan W, Wang T, Qian W, Ding K, Zhang L, Han L, Shao X. Effects of different
inoculation routes on the parasitic sites of Cryptosporidium baileyi infection in chickens.
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25148714) Exp Parasitol. (2014)
16. Consequence of Cryptosporidiosis on the immune response of vaccinated broiler
chickens against Newcastle disease and/or avian influenza.
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24993748) Vet Res Commun. (2014)
17Reed. Case: Cryptosporidiosis, lung, cockerel
(https://www.askjpc.org/vspo/show_page.php?id=580) The Joint Pathology Center (2014)
18JPC Systemic pathology. Case of Cryptosporidiosis in a cockerel
(http://www.askjpc.org/vspo/show_page.php?id=580) The Joint Pathology Centre (2014)
19Hamidinejat H, Jalali MH, Jafari RA, Nourmohammadi K.. Molecular determination and
genotyping of Cryptosporidium spp. in fecal and respiratory samples of industrial
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11/9/21, 5:42 PM Cryptosporidiosis in Chickens

poultry in Iran. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25063279) Asian Pac J Trop Med.

(2014)
20Ravich, Michelle L., et al.. Gastrointestinal cryptosporidiosis in captive psittacine birds
in the United States: a case review. (https://doi.org/10.1647/1082-6742-28.4.297) Journal
of avian medicine and surgery 28.4 (2014)
21Wang L, Xue X, Li J, Zhou Q, Yu Y, Du A.. Cryptosporidiosis in broiler chickens in
Zhejiang Province, China: molecular characterization of oocysts detected in fecal
samples. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25075975) Parasite. (2014)
22Gelis, Stacey, BSc, BVSc, MACVS Chapter 14: Evaluating and Treating the
Gastrointestinal System. Clinical Avian Medicine. Vol. 1 (2014)
23Dhama K, Rajagunalan S, Chakraborty S, Verma AK, Kumar A, Tiwari R, Kapoor S.. Food-
borne pathogens of animal origin-diagnosis, prevention, control and their zoonotic
significance: a review. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24506006) Pak J Biol Sci.
(2013)
24Baroudi D, Khelef D, Goucem R, Adjou KT, Adamu H, Zhang H, Xiao L.. Common
occurrence of zoonotic pathogen Cryptosporidium meleagridis in broiler chickens and
turkeys in Algeria. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23498647) Vet Parasitol.
(2013)
25Sréter, T., Z. Széll, and I. Varga. Anticryptosporidial prophylactic efficacy of
enrofloxacin and paromomycin in chickens (https://www.jstor.org/stable/3285422 ) The
Journal of parasitology (2002)
26Sréter, T., and I. Varga. Cryptosporidiosis in birds—a review
(https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-4017(99)00178-8) Veterinary parasitology 87.4 (2000)
Blogs
1Cryptosporidium​sp.. (https://www.veterinaryparasitology.com/cryptosporidium.html)
The Monster Hunter's Guide to Veterinary Parasitology

Geographical Distribution

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Risk Factors

Keeping birds in a dirty, unsanitary environment.

Ingestion of untreated or fecal contaminated drinking water.
Wild or pet exotic birds on the premises.
Letting chickens drink from rivers.

Etiology

Cryptosporidium spp (/pathogens/cryptosporidium)

Also Consider

Chronic respiratory disease (/condition/mycoplasma-gallisepticum)

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