Prevalence of cryptosporidium spp. (Eucoccidiorida: Cryptosporiidae) in seven species of farm animals in Tunisia

Abstract

1,001 faecal samples were obtained from 89 sheep (lambs and adult), 184 goats, 190 horses, 178 rabbits, 1 10 camels, 200 broiler chicken and 50 turkeys housed in farms from different localities in Tunisia. All samples were analysed for Cryptosporidium oocysts by microscopic examination of smears stained by modified Ziehl Neelsen technique. The parasite was detected in ten lambs and adult sheep (11.2 %) and nine broiler chicken (4.5 %). Molecular characterization, performed in four animals, identified C. bovis in three lambs and C. meleagridis in one broiler chicken. This work is the first report on Cryptosporidium in farm animals in Tunisia.