Prevalence of Cryptosporidiosis in Goats of Van Province Turkey

Abstract

Cryptosporidium is a minute coccidian protozoon belonging to phylum Apicomplexa. Twenty species of this parasite have been described from a variety of vertebrates including mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. Development of the Cryptosporidium occurs within the brush border. of the epithelial cells of the intestine. Sporulated oocysts, containing four sporozoits are passed in the faeces and are transmitted by ingestion (Markell, et al., 1992). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidiosis in goats in province Van. This paper is the first report on the prevalence of Cryptosporidiosis in goats in Van province, eastern Turkey.