Investigation into the prevalence of bovine cryptosporidiosis among small-holder dairy households in Dagoretti Division, Nairobi, Kenya.

Abstract

To determine the prevalence of bovine cryptosporidiosis and knowledge of this disease among smallholder dairy households in Dagoretti Division, Nairobi, Kenya.

Cross-sectional survey of 299 dairy households and 149 non-dairy neighbouring households.

Dagoretti Division, a mixed urban and peri-urban area of Nairobi.

Dairy householders and their immediate, non-cattle keeping neighbours.

There were 50 positive households from 285 households where a fecal sample was collected giving an apparent prevalence of 18% [13, 23]%. Positive households were positively associated with watering cattle with well water, presence of shallow well, cemented cattle shed flooring and number of household cattle. (p < 0.05) Knowledge of cryptosporidiosis was generally low with more dairy respondents, 19% (56/292), who said they had heard of the disease than their non-dairy neighbours, 4% (6/146).

This 18% bovine cryptosporidiosis prevalence does not constitute a risk to human health unless Cryptosporidium parvum is present. Typing of these positive samples is needed to assist in accurately determining the risk and enable evidence based management of urban dairy farming.