Maryam Karimi-Dehkordi - Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran.
Majid Gholami-Ahangaran - Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran.
Akram Ghahramani-Chermahini - Department of Food Science and Technology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

Background: Cryptosporidium is one of the most important pathogenic parasites in poultry because it is a zoonotic parasite, and birds and other infected animals could be a potential threat to public health. The main purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of Cryptosporidium infection in domestic fowl in Shahrekord by PCR method. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ۱۱۰ fecal samples were collected from fowls referred to the Veterinary Clinic of Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord Branch. After DNA extraction, the samples were examined by PCR, and the frequency of infection in different genders and seasons was analyzed by SPSS statistical software. Findings: Out of ۱۱۰ samples, ۱۵ (۱۳.۶۴%) samples were positive for Cryptosporidium. The rate of Cryptosporidium infection in the females was ۱۲.۸۵% and in the males was ۱۵%. The results also showed that there was no statistically significant difference between two sexes (male and female) regarding the prevalence of Cryptosporidium, while the frequency of infection in cold seasons (۲۲.۲۲%) was significantly higher than in warm seasons (۷.۶۹%). Conclusion: Fowls could be considered as one of the important reservoirs of Cryptosporidium infection for humans.

Cryptosporidium, Fowl, Zoonotic, PCR.