Study on the infection rate to cryptosporidium in suckling calves of Ghuchan district

Cryptosporidium spp. are prevalent and pathogens intestinal protozoan parasites in humans and many other species of mammals. Study was to determine Cryptosporidium infection in suckling calves of Ghuchan district (north of Razavi Khorasan province). Four hundred fecal samples from suckling calves with age up to 75 days were collected. After concentration of oocyst with Formol-ether method، all of slides were stained with modified Ziehl-Neelsen''s acid fast method and were studied microscopically to oocyst detection. Results confirmed cryptosporidial infection in 2. 5% (10 samples out of 400) of studied calves. Statistical analyses showed that the maximum rate of the infection was in animal with age P=0. 032; OR=5. 76). Cryptosporidiosis may be a major epidemiological significance in Ghuchan district and suggests that suckling calves may be reservoirs of the infection for other animals and even for humans too.