Objective: Study of epidemiological pattern of cryptosporidial infestation in man and animals.
Design: Cross sectional study.
Animals: Fowl (140), dairy cows (105), sheep (87) and othere (208).
Procedure: Detection of oocyst in fecal and tracheal scraping smears by Ziel-nelson modified technique.
Statistical analysis: Analysis of variances (ANOVA Test).
Results: Rate of infestation by Cryptosporidia oocysts in 105 dairy cows, heifers and 3 month old and less than 3 month old healthy appearing calves showing calf scours as followed respectively: 12%, 4%. 4%, 24% and 20%. Infestation in lambs less than one month old was 14.28% and in Rams more than 3 years-old 17.69%, out of 131 tracheal mucosal smears of fowls, 2.2g% were positive for Cryptosporidia infestatio and from 140 cecal mucosal smears 5.7 1% were positive. Fecal samples of 46 wild birds and 23 fecal smears of farm workers indicated that infection rate was 2.17% and 4.34% respectively.
Conclusion: According to different studies on Cryptosporidia indicates the importance of controlling this infestation. Cryptosporidia oocysts are very resistant to the anti coccydiel drugs and environmental condition. This study indicates that this protozoa in the host body is not acted independently and is associated with to her microorganisms. As to the transmission of infection from animals to man, it could be concluded the domestic and pet animals are the reservoir, of infection for human populations. J. Fac. Vet. Med Univ. Teliran. 57, 1: 87- 92, 2002.
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