Equine cryptosporidium prevalence in border line villages of Urmia province

In this study, 142 stool samples from 70 horses and 72 mules were collected from border villages around urmia province and were evaluated for cryptosporidium oocytes.the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis in the horses was 10.56% and among mules was 12.50%.the highest rate of infection was among mules but there was no statistically significant corrolation between horse and mule infection (p>0.05). in our knowledge,this is the first report of cryptosporidium detection in horse fecal samples in Azerbaijan province.because of difficulties on cryptosporiosis treatment and as the cryptosporidium oocytes are a serious threat for drinking water purifying,diagnosis of the infection in hosts and applying a preventive policy must consider.