Molecularanalysis of
Cryptosporidium spp. in industrial and nativebroilers in Guilan province

ShahbaziP*, Aligolzadeh A

Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

Objectives:Cryptosporidiumis an intercellular protozoan parasite which usually infects the gastrointestinal epithelial cells of a wide range of vertebratesand it is known as one of the major factors causing diarrhea in human and  livestockwhich also haszoonotic importance. Documented data shows three species of cryptosporidiumas the cause ofCryptosporidiosis in poultry hosts which includes: Cryptosporidium baileyi, Cryptosporidium meleagridis and Cryptosporidium galli.

 The currentstudy investigated the molecular detection of Cryptosporidium spp. in industrial and native broilers in Guilan Provinceaccording to the Nested-PCR method using 18srRNA locus gene.

Material& Methods: Inthis study, 100 fecal samplesof the industrial and native broilers in Guilan province were collected in Winter,2014 and Spring, 2014.  At first, all ofthe samples were studied microscopically after staining by modified Ziehl–Neelsen method, andthen molecular detection of Cryptosporidium species processed usingNested-PCR procedure.

Results & conclusion: According to the results, from the examined 100 fecal samples, 8% werepositive for Cryptosporidium spp. Infection in microscopic andmolecular  methods. Inaddition, statistical analyses showed no significant relation between infectionand season of sampling (P>0.05)   but there was a significant difference between the infection rate in the two age categoriesof over 25 days and under 25 days (P<0.05). This study increased ourknowledge about therelationship between age and cryptosporidiosis prevalence in broilers.

Key words:Cryptosporidium, broilers,Guilan