Preliminary study on cryptosporidiosis in livestock from Kuwait.

Out of 225 fecal samples (40 of calves, 128 of lambs and 57 of goat kids) received in the Veterinary Laboratories, Kuwait, 43 (19.1%) were found to be positive for Cryptosporidium using the conventional method, modified acid-fast stain, and the immunologic technique, the immuno-chromatography assay. Calf fecal samples showed the highest infection rate (37.5%), followed by goat kids (21%) and then Lambs (12.5%). Results obtained by conventional method were found to be consistent with those detected using the immunologic technique.

Prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in aborted ewes in Kuwait.

Serum samples from 528 aborted ewes from different sheep flocks in Kuwait were tested for Toxoplasma gondii. The indirect hemagglutination test (IHAT) was used with a titer of 1:80 considered positive. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 94 (17.8%). The highest number of positive ewes (23; 24.5%) had a titer of 1:640. Only one aborted ewe had a titer of 1:2560. This study is the first to report Toxoplasma infection in sheep which may pose risk to humans who consume under cooked mutton. The detection of Toxoplasma antibodies in aborted ewes refers to the implication of toxoplasmosis in abortion among sheep in Kuwait.