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Abstract
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Cryptosporidium is an Apicomplexan intestinal protozoa, which infects the gastrointestinal tract of domestic animals and humans and causes varying degrees of naturally occurring diarrhea and death in neonatal farm animals and infected animals, and can be a potential risk to public health. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in sheep in Kurdistan district, west of Iran, from March to October 2013. For this cross-sectional study, 180 fecal samples were collected randomly from 200 farms in 9 villages in Kurdistan district. The samples were transported to parasitology laboratory. All the animals in this study were 1-14 months. Fecal samples of animals were collected directly from their rectum. The fecal samples were then fixed as quickly as possible in 10% formalin for preserving until further examination. Moderately thick fecal smears were prepared and air-dried. After methanol fixation, the fecal smears were stained by modified Ziehl–Neelsen staining. The stained smears were observed under microscope with a ×400 to ×1,000 magnifications. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium in lambs in Kurdistan province were found 6.1%. The prevalence of the infection according to age groups in lambs were as follow: less than 6 months of age 18.75%, 6-12 months: 5% and more than 12 months: 2.27% (P>0.05). The prevalence of the infection according to sex groups in lambs were 1.85% in male and 7.94% in female animals (P>0.05). The presence of Cryptosporidium spp. in lambs in Kurdistan indicates that this protozoan parasite should also be considered in the etiology of lambs exhibiting diarrhea
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