Prevalence of Cryptosporı̇dı̇um spp. in Dogs in The Aegean Region

Abstract

Cryptosporidium spp. is a protozoal parasite that can cause significant gastrointestinal diseases in humans and animals. Those parasites cause infection, especially in young and immunosuppressed animals in many mammals, poultry, reptiles, and humans, Cryptosporidium spp. Localised in the digestive system, epithelial cells threaten human and animal health with their zoonotic properties. The study's animal material consisted of 200 dogs of different breeds, ages and genders, including healthy (n=50) and diarrhoea (n=150). Stool samples of the dogs used in the study were stained with modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique and examined under a microscope. It was concluded that the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. was 15.5% in faecal samples taken from dogs and that the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. was 14% and 16%, respectively, in healthy and diarrheal dogs, and it was concluded that it could be used as a reference to future studies in dogs.