ABSTRACT
Pet ownership, particularly of dogs and cats, is common throughout the world. Gastrointestinal disorders in companion animals, especially diarrhea, are a common reason for pet owners to seek for veterinary advice. There is a modest prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp. infections in companion animals. Although pets offer significant benefits to society, there are documented health hazards associated with owning a pet, including the potential risk to humans of enteric parasites harbored by companion animals. Cryptosporidiosis detected in dogs, cats, and horses could represent an important reservoir of infection for humans. Conventional coproscopical methods used to detect Cryptosporidium oocysts in studies in Australia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, Scotland, and the United States found that 0 to 12.3% of cats were excreting oocysts. In addition to greater sensitivity, molecular methods allow the accurate identification of the species or genotypes of Cryptosporidium that are present in fecal specimens.
