[Importance of the handling in criptosporidiosis in sheep rearing]

With the objective to verify which are the risk factors in ovine cryptosporidiosis, 130 ovine fecal samples were collected in ten farms in Campos dos Goytacazes and Macaé and analyzed using the modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique. Hygiene, breeding system, clinic alteration, veterinary assistance and source of water which were furnished to the animals were analyzed by χ2 Test and Fisher Exact Test, with Yates correction (when it was necessary) and 95% of confidence interval. Oocysts were observed in 47% of the farms. Clinic alteration as anorexia, apathy and diarrhea were not associated with cryptosporidiosis, however, due to a significative risk factors connected with animals breeding explained that the ovine handling is determinant in the presence of oocysts in ovine feces.