Contamination of environmental objects with Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in industrial pig farm and measures to control them

Abstract

The purpose of the research is to study the contamination of environmental objects with Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in industrial pig farm; desinfection against exogenous stages of Cryptosporidium spp. using Kenocox.Materials and methods. The studies were carried out on the basis of an industrial pig breeding complex in the Cherepovets district of the Vologda region in a pigsty for 120 heads, divided into 2 sectors, as well as in a pigsty for weaning pigs and a fattening pigsty for 1500 and 2000 heads respectively. For this, scrapings were taken from the floors of the pens, walkways, and walls of feeders and examined them for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts. Then, in the nursery after transferring the piglets to the rearing section, desinfection was carried out. One sector was treated with Kenocox at a dose of 0.5 L per 1 m2 with an exposure of 2 hours, the other sector – with a hot 4% sodium hydroxide solution at a rate of 1 L per 1 m2 with an exposure of 3 hours. One day after the treatment, the oocyst contamination of Cryptosporidium spp. in environmental objects in both sectors was re-examined.Results and discussion. The highest contamination of environmental objects with Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts (floors and walls of pens, feeders, floors of aisles) was found in the brood pigsty, where all the examined objects were contaminated to varying degrees (19.4%). With an increase in the age of piglets and their transfer to pigsties for weaners, and later on for rearing, there is a decrease in the contamination of the premises in which these age groups of animals are kept (10.0 and 2.5% respectively). With the desinfection of the queen-shed, as the most contaminated by oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. from the pig-breeding premises we examined, a significant effect was achieved with the use of Kenocox. Sodium hydroxide solution was found to be ineffective against Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts.