The frequency of Cryptosporidium infection in stray dogs in Kerman city in 2007-2008

Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite of human، domestic animals and other vertebrates belongs to phylum apicomplexa. In the present study، fecal samples were collected fresh، directly from the rectum of 98 stray dogs in Kerman city. Cryptosporidium oocysts were concentrated by using the formalin ether sedimentation method followed by the modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique. Of 98 stray dogs، Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected from feces of 4 dogs (4. 08%). Of the total collected samples، 53 (54. 09%) samples were belonged to female and 45 45. 91%) samples were belonged to male stray dogs، that observed infection rate of Cryptosporidium among female stray dogs was 2 (3. 77%) and among male stray dogs was 2 (4. 44%). No statistically significant differences in prevalence occurred between female and male stray dogs (P 0/05). Of the total collected samples، 18 (18. 36%) samples were belonged to dogs younger than one year and 80 (81. 63%) were belonged to older dogs. Infection rate of Cryptosporidium among dogs younger than one year was 2 (11. 11%) and among older dogs was 2 (2. 5%). Statistically significant differences in prevalence occurred between dogs younger than one year and older dogs (P<0/05). This protozoan parasite is an important zoonotic disease. So stray dogs in Kerman can infect the human food and water sources.