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Hidden Parasite, Visible Impact: The Public Health Burden of Cryptosporidiosis in Nigeria’s Livestock Sector
 
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1
Department of Pathobiology and Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, United States
 
2
Department of Health Promotion and Education, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
 
3
Department of Veterinary Parasitology & Entomology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
 
These authors had equal contribution to this work
 
 
Submission date: 2025-10-24
 
 
Final revision date: 2026-02-27
 
 
Acceptance date: 2026-05-28
 
 
Online publication date: 2026-06-11
 
 
Corresponding author
Victor Ibukun Agbajelola   

Department of Pathobiology and Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, United States
 
 
 
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ABSTRACT
Cryptosporidiosis, caused by Cryptosporidium sp., remains a significant yet underrecognized cause of diarrhoeal disease in humans and animals in Nigeria, with implications for public health, livestock productivity, and food safety. The parasite’s zoonotic potential, environmental resilience, and the close coexistence of people and livestock in smallholder systems sustain transmission across rural and peri-urban communities. This perspective synthesizes representative evidence published between 2010 and 2025 to examine the epidemiological patterns, transmission pathways, and structural control gaps surrounding cryptosporidiosis in Nigeria’s livestock sector. Reported prevalence frequently exceeds 20% in cattle and small ruminants in several states, with documented contamination of milk, water bodies, and abattoir effluents, indicating multiple exposure routes. Despite these findings, cryptosporidiosis remains absent from Nigeria’s national zoonotic priority framework, and surveillance across veterinary, environmental, and public health sectors remains fragmented. This article argues that sustainable control requires formal integration of cryptosporidiosis into Nigeria’s existing One Health architecture. Key priorities include coordinated human–animal surveillance, targeted environmental monitoring in high-risk zones, strengthening molecular diagnostic capacity, and community-based livestock hygiene interventions. Recognizing cryptosporidiosis as a zoonotic priority would enhance food safety, protect vulnerable populations, and strengthen national health security. By repositioning the disease within a structured One Health framework, Nigeria can move from passive recognition of endemic transmission to proactive prevention and risk reduction.
eISSN:2545-1898
ISSN:0033-2100
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