title: Prevalence ofCryptosporidiumspp. in ruminants of Lorestan province, Iran.
abstract: Cryptosporidiosis is one of the important zoonotic diseases caused by an intracellular protozoan parasite calledCryptosporidium. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence ofCryptosporidiumspp. infection on 1,115 ruminants, cattle, sheep and goats, in Lorestan province, Iran. Using formol-ether concentration technique and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining method afterwards, the overall prevalence ofCryptosporidiumspp. infection in ruminants of Lorestan province was 7.17 %. Prevalence of infection was 9.07 % (39 of 430), 5.80 % (20 of 345) and 6.18 % (21 of 340) for cattle, sheep and goats respectively. There was no significant difference between contamination of all examined animals and different geographical and climatic situations (P > 0.05) and diarrhea was not directly associated withCryptosporidiuminfection (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis in Lorestan province was relatively low, but it should be noticed that this opportunistic parasite is zoonosis and also can make epidemics in ruminants as well as human population in suitable conditions.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Faculty, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Haddad
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shafieyan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Veterinary Faculty, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alborzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Veterinary Faculty, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hamidinejat
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Tabandeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Rahim Haji
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hajikolaei
keywords: Cryptosporidium spp.; Epidemiology; Iran; Ruminants