Identification of major protozoal enteropathogens causing calf diarrhea in dairy farms in and around Holeta Town, Oromia Special Zone, Ethiopia

Calf diarrhea can be caused by a variety of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and intestinal parasites. Giardia, Eimeria, and Cryptosporidium are the most significant protozoan parasites and are all individually and  ollectively infectious. A case-series study was carried out in and around Holeta dairy farms, Oromia Special Zone, Ethiopia, from November 2017 to April 2018 to identify the main  protozoan enteropathogens from diarrheic calves. Samples were purposely collected from three dairy farms: Serkalem Dairy Farm (SDF),  Holeta Agricultural Research Centre (HARC), and Ada Berga Agricultural Research Centre (ABARC). A total of 93 fecal samples were taken from diarrheic calves of up to 4 months of age. Protozoan enteropathogens were identified using flotation and modified Ziehl Neelsen  staining methods. Cryptosporidium, Eimeria, and Giardia were detected in 44 (47.3%), 50 (53.8%), and 34 (36.6%) of the diarrheic fecal  samples examined, respectively. The findings indicated that there were 17 (18.27%) cases of Cryptosporidium, Eimeria, and Giardia as  mixed infections, 16 (17.2%) cases of Cryptosporidium and Eimeria, 5 (5.4%) cases of Cryptosporidium and Giardia, and 4 (4.3%) cases of  Eimeria and Giardia, compared to 13 (13.97%), 6 (6.45%), and 5 (5.4%) cases of Cryptosporidium, Eimeria and Giardia as single infections,  respectively. The selected farms had significant prevalence levels of three common protozoa: Eimeria, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium.  Further molecular research is required to identify the species and genotype levels of protozoal enteropathogens and related risk factors.