Cryptosporidium infection is one of the most common causes of parasitic diarrhoea worldwide in cattle and humans. In developing countries, human cryptosporidiosis is most prevalent during early childhood and links between zoonotic infection and animal related activities have been demonstrated. This study investigated the prevalence and species/genotype distribution of Cryptosporidium among children (< 5 years) and calves (< 6 months) living in a rural farming area adjacent to the Kruger National Park in South Africa, where interactions between humans and wild and domestic animals are known to occur. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 8/143 stool samples of children recruited within the hospital system (5.6%; 95% CI 2.4%, 10.7%) and in 2/352 faecal samples of calves (0.6%; 95% CI 0.1%, 2.0%) using the modified Ziehl–Neelsen (MZN) staining technique. Microscopy positive samples from children were further analysed by PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene and identified as Cryptosporidium hominis (3/4) and Cryptosporidium meleagridis (1/4). Regardless of the microscopy outcome, randomly selected samples (n = 36) from calves 0–4 months of age were amplified and sequenced at the 18S rRNA gene using nested PCR. Two calves tested positive (5.6%; 95% CI 1.7%, 18.7%), and revealed the presence of Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium bovis. The detection of only two zoonotic species (C. parvum in one calf and C. meleagridis in one child) suggests that zoonotic cryptosporidiosis is not currently widespread in our study area; however, the potential exists for amplification of transmission in an immunocompromised population. (Résumé d'auteur)

In the conditions of the Republic of Belarus there were analyzed high productive traits of meaty calves and cross breeds bred in accordance with a system cow-calf, as well as the possibilities of using veal meat obtained in ecologically safe areas for infant food production. At the age of 6,5-7 months the weight of fresh carcass of bull-calves of sharolez breed in comparison with aberdin-angus х black-motley herdmates was on 41,6 kg (Р less than 0,001) higher, carcass yield and slaughter yield – on 13,8% (Р less than 0,001) and 13,6% (Р less than 0,001), respectively. The fat content in sharolez meat was 4,9% against 8,9%; protein - 21,9% against 18,8%. The black-motley suckling bull-calves surpassed their herdmates which were grown up by technology of dairy cattle breeding at the age of 6-6,5 months according to indexes of weight of fresh carcass - on 16,3 kg or 21,7% (Р less than 0,01); according to indexes in a slaughter yield - on 16,6% (Р less than 0,001); and according to indexes meat flesh in a carcass - on 1,5%. According to quality indexes, amino acid structure, acceptable concentration of toxic elements content, pesticides, antibiotics, radionuclides and other harmful substances the veal meat of calves which were bred on a system a cow-calve in ecologically pure zones proved to be important meat raw materials to produce infant food products.