Diagnostic Study Of Cryptosporidium Parvum In Some Birds Species

Abstract

The current study included the detection of Cryptosporidium parvum in four species of birds, including Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata), Chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar), Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), and  Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) in Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf province in Iraq for the period from April 2021 until the end of April 2022 by using molecular tests, Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of the gene 18S rRNA with a molecular weight of 730bp  in the intestines. A total of 115 birds, including 25 samples, were collected for each species of birds that were included in the study, except for P. alchata, 40 samples. The results of the molecular examination for the presence of the diagnostic gene 18S rRNA with a molecular weight of 730bp of the parasite showed the presence of 7 samples were infected with a percentage of 6.10%, which included 2 samples (28.6%) of N. meleagris, one sample (14.3%) of A. chukar, one sample (14.3%) of G. chloropus, and 3 samples (42.9%) of P. alchata. The results of  using PCR test, showed that the highest infection rate of positive samples of C. parvum was recorded in N. meleagris, and the lowest was in P. alchata.