Cryptosporidiosis as a Persistent Threat to Livestock Health: An Epidemiological Study in Sheep and Cattle in Wasit Province, Iraq

• Shifaa Ali Abdulmohsin Al-Hachami*

  Author

Cryptosporidium parvum , a globally distributed coccidian protozoan, is a zoonotic pathogen that infects both humans and animals. This study was conducted to determine the incidence of Cryptosporidium parvum in sheep and cattle in Wasit Province of Iraq and its correlation with epidemiological parameters including age and sex. A total of 150 fecal samples were collected, including 75 samples from sheep and 75 samples from cattle, which were taken from different areas districts within Wasit province from January 2026 to May 2026. The samples were then examined using "Modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain" to determine the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in the samples. The results showed that the overall prevalence of C. parvum in cattle and sheep was 64/150 (42.67%), with 30/75 (40%) in cattle and 34/75 (45.33%) in sheep. The results also showed that the highest infection rate was recorded in animals under 6 months old, reaching 18/25 (72%) in cattle and 20/25 (80%) in sheep, while the infection rate gradually decreased with increasing age.Regarding sex, the infection rate in male cattle was 16/37 (43.2%) compared to 14/38 (36.8%) in females, while the infection rate in male sheep was 18/37 (48.6%) compared to 16/38 (42.1%) in females.The results indicate a high infection rate of C. parvum in both cattle and sheep, with a significantly higher infection rate observed among younger animals. However, no significant differences were observed between males and females in the infection rate within Wasit Province

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