Cryptosporidium sp.

Quantitative analysis of the load in Cryptosporidium sp. responsible for digestive disorders in cats and dogs. Cryptosporidium sp. is a coccidia responsible for chronic diarrhea of ​​the large intestine and small intestine. Co-infections are possible with Giardia in dogs and cats, and Tritrichomonas fetus in cats.

Test indications

• Diagnostic de la cryptosporidose in its digestive form.
• Determination of excretory status.
• Treatment monitoring.

Test characteristics

• Real-time RT-PCR
• Detection threshold
• Quantitative load analysis.

Samples to be taken

• Ecouvillon rectal (dry swab without transport medium).
• Given the intermittent nature of excretion and therefore the risk of a false negative on a single sample, to establish a diagnosis, we recommend:
  • That is, at least 3 consecutive analyzes (if the first two are negative) on samples taken 1 week apart.
  • Or a single analysis carried out on a pool of rectal swabs taken every two to three days over 10 days (i.e. 3 to 5 swabs) and kept in the fridge (grouped sending of 3 to 5 swabs). This option delays the diagnosis time, but covers a longer period to increase the chances of sampling during an excretion phase.

Interpretation of the result

• Negative result : Absence of coccidia or quantity below the detection threshold. A negative result does not exclude Cryptosporidium carriage, as rectal excretion is intermittent. Consequently, several consecutive tests or a single test on a mixture of samples taken a few days apart are necessary in order to confirm the absence of Cryptosporidium (see recommended protocol above).
• Positive result : Presence of the parasite in the sample. Positive results should be interpreted in the epidemiological-clinical context and depending on the duration of development. The PCR test being quantitative, it is interesting in the treatment follow-up, in order to evaluate its effectiveness (reduction in excreted load).

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