Prevalence of some Cryptosporidium species in cattle in Baghdad ,Iraq

Abstract

A total of 268 fecal samples were collected from calves between 1 week to 2 years old from Al-Nasr station for dairy cattle and three regions in Baghdad (AL-Taji, AL-Shula, and AL-Gazaliya). Modified Zehil Neelson stain was used to detect Cryptosporidium oocysts in these samples. Oocyst shape and size were used as criterions for species identification. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection was 35.44%. No sex preponderance was found, but there was decreasing in the prevalence versus age, with C. parvum was the dominated species before six month age, and C. andersoni in calves older than that.