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* Contributes to [[Intestines Catarrhal Enteritis - Pathology#Undifferentiated Neonatal Calf Diarrhoea|undifferentiated neonatal calf diarrhoea]], a mixed viral enteritis in calves.
==Recognition==
*Minute protozoan parasite
*Wide host range
*Parasitises epithelial cells lining the epithelial cells lining the ailimentary and respiratory tracts
*Developmental stages confined to the '''microvillous brish border'''
*''C. parvum'' most associated with disease in domestic animals and in humans
**Other species affect birds
*Small oocysts of 4-5μm
==Life Cycle==
*Direct life cycle
**Only one host
**Homoxenous
*1 week prepatent period
*'''Sporulated''' oocysts past in faeces
*Autoinfection can occur
**Thin walled oocysts
*Faecal-oral transmission also occurs
**Thick walled oocysts
==Pathogenesis==
*Causes outbreaks of [[Intestine Diarrhoea - Pathology|diarrhoea]] in young animals
*Common cause of calf-hood scours
**Older animals may be asymptomatic carriers
**Contributes to [[Intestines Catarrhal Enteritis - Pathology#Undifferentiated Neonatal Calf Diarrhoea|undifferentiated neonatal calf diarrhoea]] which is a mixed viral enteritis in calves
*Common infection in AIDS patients
==Epidemiology==
*Direct faecal-oral infection
**E.g. School parties visiting farms
*Water-bourne infection
**E.g. contaminated water supply may infect hundreds of people
**Difficult to locate source
==Diagnosis==
*Faecal smear
**Ziehl-Neelson (ZN) stain
**Oocysts stain red against a blue/green background
*Immunoassays
**Detect oocysts in faeces
==Control==
*Isolate/quarantine brought-in calves
**Treat if signs of [[Intestine Diarrhoea - Pathology|diarrhoea]] present
*Good hygiene, adequate bedding, disinfection of calf pens is important
*Prevention/treatment
**Halofuginone
***Halocur or Intervet
***Oral dosage