Cryptosporidia-Positive Rates of Avian Necropsy Accessions Determined by Examination of Auramine O-Stained Fecal Smears

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Abstract
Fecal smears from 112 avian necropsy accessions representing 431 birds were stained with auramine O and examined for Cryptospordium oocysts by fluorescence microscopy. Stained Cryptospordium oocysts fluoresced bright yellow-green were easily differentiated from extraneous material by their uniform small size (approx. 5 .mu.m) and morphology. The rates of cryptosporidia-positive accessions were 27.3% (9/33) of broilers, 10% (3/30) of broiler breeders, and 5.9% (1/17) of layers. Further analyses of available data for various risk factors that may have influenced rates of cryptosporidia-positive samples in broilers, broiler breeders, and layers failed to show significant relationships. However, it was apparent that positive samples were clustered within accessions and not scattered throughout the population sampled. This survey also resulted in the first reported identification of Cryptospordium oocysts from a budgerigar, macaw, and tundra swan.