| Research Abstract |
As a clinicoepidemiological study of cryptosporidiosis, a zoonosis, we investigated the prevalence of Cryptospridium (Cry.) by the sucrose fecal suspension method in 22 types of pets such as dogs, cats, and ferrets in Japan.
A total of 22 veterinary hospitals participated in this survey, and the following animal species (number of cases/that of samples) were examined : humans (11/13), cattle (61/61), dogs (180/185), cats (86/90), rabbits (27/27), ferrets (46/51), hamsters (18/20), prairie dogs (5/5), parakeets (4/5), mice (2/2), raccoons (1/1), iguanas (1/1), quails (5/5), turtles (1/1), pigeons (1/1), raccoon dogs (5/5), bulbuls (3/3), gray starlings (3/3), giant flying squirrels (1/1), birds (1/1), bantams (1/1), meerkats (1/2) and turtles (1/1)(total, 465/484). Cry. oocysts were detected in 1 dog (0.6%), 2 cattle (3.3%), and 3 ferrets (6.5%). In 2 ferrets, the course is still being observed, and oocyst discharge is still persisting. Since the properties of feces in these animals were often normal, infection may be established by diffusion to the animal maintenance environment, which is an important problem. In July, 1999, invited by the Japanese Veterinarian Association for Small Animals, I gave an educational lecture entitled "Present topics and examination methods (practice) of Cry." in the annual general meeting. Practice of examination by the sucrose suspension method was performed in Wakayama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Niigata, and 10 other invitation lectures were given. The effects of the practice □ lectures were observed. Since Cry. oocysts are very small, "careful observation" is even more important in their examination than in examinations for other parasites.
Due to factors such as changes in the animal maintenance □ living environments and the view of values, periodic surveys are necessary in the future. We are still observing the course and intend to submit a paper to a western journal in the latter half of this year.
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