ABSTRACT
In many industrialized nations, livestock are often raised under intensive, high-density conditions, whereas other nations tend to use more traditional husbandry methods. Cryptosporidium infections have been reported in livestock worldwide, regardless of the husbandry system. Studies in animals suggest that hyperimmune bovine colostrum, paromomycin, and nitazoxanide are effective in treating Cryptosporidium infections. However, treatment regimens and associated expenses make it unlikely that these compounds would be used in the livestock industry, limiting treatment to supportive therapy such as fluid and electrolyte replacement. There has been much progress in defining the Cryptosporidium species and genotypes present in livestock, their host ranges, and their transmission dynamics, especially for species/genotypes that cause disease in animals or that are transmissible to humans. The histological appearance of infected intestinal tissue is similar to that described for other livestock, with widespread atrophy, blunting, and fusion of villi. However, despite increasing recognition of the significance of cryptosporidiosis in goats, many features of the disease are poorly understood.
