Survey of Cryptosporidium parasite infection in poultry farms around Tabriz

Cryptosporidium is a genus of apicomplexan protozoa that can cause enteric infection or respiratory form of infection with up to 10% mortality in broiler flocks .In the respiratory forms up to 50% of a flock may show clinical signs. In addition to the direct economic effects of the clinical disease, the damage caused to the immune system and interaction with other pathogens such as IBD virus has significant effects. In the present study, 400 fecal samples from 20 broiler farms were prepared and examined. Based on our results, cryptosporidium infection was seen in 2 of 20 studied farms. Infection rate in two farms were 40% and 65% respectively. According to these results and other studies, cryptosporidium infection could be an important problem in poultry farms and it is necessary to carry out further studies about cryptosporidium infection in poultry farms.