Intestinal protozoan infections in cattle breeders in rural regions of Mazandaran province in 2003

Background and Zoonotic parasitic infections, particularly of intestinal protozoan are of tremendous health and medical importance in different age and professional groups in north of Ïran. Âim of this study was to identify intestinal parasites in cattle breeders and their family members from rural areas of 9 cites in Mazandaran province, Ïran. Ïn this descriptive study stool samples were collected from 1575 individuals who were in contact with cattle (sheep and cows) for more than 2 years. Two samples were taken from each person under study, direct and formaline-ether slide preparations were diagnosed microscopically. Data were collected and analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. This study indicated that the highest rate of infection was observed in 51 to 60 years and the lowest in 21-30 years age groups. 61.6% and 38.4% of the cases under study were male and female respectively. Ôver all a parasites rate of 31.1% was observed. Rates of infection with one, two, three and more parasites were 22.7%, 7.8%, 2.2% and 0.2% respectively. Ïnfection rate of Blastocystis hominis and Giardia lamblia were 31.2% and 24.8% respectively. Three out of ten identified parasites species were pathogenic. Ço-infection rate of intestinal pathogenic parasites with other parasites was 10.2% and in infected persons was 31%. Rate of infection to all types of intestinal parasites on the basis of age group, sex and education of the cattle breeders was different. Rate of infection in both sexes to Blastocystis hominis and Giardia lamblia was more than other parasites. The highest rate of infection to intestinal parasites was observed in illiterate persons. Çonclusion: Ïnfection with different types of pathogenic and non pathogenic protozoa, particularly to Blastocystosis and Giardiasis indicates the signifcance of these infections for the health of the cattle breeders in rural regions of northern Ïran.