2001 Volume 54 Issue 4 Pages 297-300
Examinations to detect Cryptosporidium oocysts were performed on 418 chickens bred on 77 farms in Hyogo Prefecture. Fecal examinations using the sucrose centrifugal flotation technique showed 37 samples (8.9%) from 14 farms to be positive for oocysts. Histological examinations were performed on the trachea, duodenum, ceca, rectum, and bursa of Fabricius obtained from chickens that tested positive. Oocysts were observed in 18 of the 33 samples from which we were able to collect the bursa of Fabricius. The oocysts were parasitized on. the mucous-epithelial surface of the bursa. On the basis of size, shape, and parasitizing organ, parasites detected throughout this survey were presumed to be Cryptosporidium baileyi.
