Pigs have their own species of
Cryptosporidium -
C. suis (which has been recovered very rarely from people), as well as natural infections with the potentially zoonotic
C. parvum. Experimentally, the potentially zoonotic
C. hominis of people will establish in pigs. Very little is known of the occurrence and production and clinical significance of
Cryptosporidium in pigs, and many infections are believed to be asymptomatic.. A small survey in Canada demonstrated a prevalence of 11% in animals from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec, but clinical disease in this host associated with
Cryptosporidium is thought to be rare. The age distribution of Cryptosporidium seems to be different in pigs than in other domestic animal hosts. For example, a recent study in Denmark suggests that parasite prevalence and intensity (as measured by oocyst production) is higher in weaners (pigs 1 to 4 months of age) than in piglets or adults. The importance of pigs as a source of human infections with Cryptosporidium is not known, but in most circumstances is likely to be small.
Additional information about Cryptosporidium is available under Cattle.
