Prevalence of Cryptosporidium andersoni in cattle in Babylon province, Iraq

A total of 396 fecal samples were collected from cattle of different ages ranged from 1 month to more than 3 years old from five different areas in the province of Babylon (Al-Mussaib, Al-Sadda, Abo-gharag, Al-Hilla and Al-Qasim). The fecal samples were examined by two laboratory tests (Modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining and Sheather’s sugar flotation method). The species were identified as Cryptosporidium andersoni based on the morphology and micrometry of the oocysts. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium andersoni infection was 13.13%, and the infection rates in Al-Musayyib, Al-Sadda, Abo-gharaq, Al-Hilla and Al-Qasim areas were 7.38%, 15.74%, 21.05%, 8.45% and 2.42% respectively. The highest infection rate appeared in age group ˃ 1- 2 years old cattle which was 24.39%, while no infection recorded in age group 1- 6 months old, and there was no significant difference found in prevalence rates between males and females