SummaryA 2-year, cross-sectional study was conducted to identify risk factors forCryptosporidium sp. infection in bovine farms in central Italy. Faecal sampleswere collected on 248 farms, from 2024 calves and analysed using ELISA andimmunofluorescent assay (IFA) commercial kits. In all 101 samples confirmedto be positive with IFA, the aetiological agent was identified as Cryptosporidiumparvum and a large genetic variability was detected by subtype analysis. Theprevalence of farm infection ranged from 3.4% to 35.6%. Univariate analysisshowed a number of putative risk factors, including the type of farm, stallingof calves, late supply of colostrum, number of heads and contact betweencalves and adults. However, multivariate analysis confirmed that the higher riskfor calves was associated with housing calves separately from their dams, acharacteristic practice of dairy herd, whereas calves being nursed by their dams,a characteristic of cow–calf herd resulted as a protective factor. Zoonoses and Public Health