CALCULATION OF THE SHEDDING RATE OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM OOCYSTS FROM THE NATURAL INFECTED SHEEP

The objective of this study to calculate means of oocysts in feces natural infected sheep. A total of 150 sheep fecal samples collected from different regions of Baghdad province(AL-Sholla , AL-Horia, AL-Taji, and Abo-Grab)-Iraq, during the period from the beginning of January to the end ofMay 2016. Three laboratory methods(modified acid fast stain, sheather᾿s sugar solutionand calculation of oocysts in feces of infected animals by haemocytometer) were used for diagnosis of Cryptosporidial oocysts and study the shedding rate of oocysts from infected male and female(pregnant and non pregnant)animals. The total infection rate was 44.66%(67/150), and the highest infection rate was detected in March, while the lowest infection rate was recorded in January 63%(19/30), 20%(6/30) respectively. Theresults were revealed significance difference between male and female infection rate, 31.74%(20/63), 54.02%(47/87) respectively. The average number of shed oocysts per gram of feces from infected non pregnant ewes was 1440 oocysts per gram while in infected pregnant ewes was 2082 oocysts per gram. The shedding rate of oocysts in pregnant ewes show the highest rate in the end period of pregnancy, while the lowest rate of shedding in the beginning period of pregnancy.