[Cryptosporidium in veal calves affected with cachexia].

Coccidia of the genus Cryptosporidium were detected in histological sections of the small intestine of three veal calves. Autopsy was performed on these calves as part of a study of the aetiology of the syndrome "cachexia" in veal calves. In addition, typical 4 mu cryptosporidium oocysts were observed in the bowel contents of one of two histologically positive calves examined and seven out of eight other cachectic calves in which coccidia had not been detected on histological examination. The changes of the mucosa of the small intestine observed are described and the possible role of cryptosporidiosis in the pathogenesis of these lesions is discussed.