Prevalence and Risk Factors of Cryptosporidium Infection Among Cats and Dogs in Qom Province, Iran

Cryptosporidiosis is an important parasitic disease that is a major health concern for animals and humans in most countries. This cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate the factors associated with the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in cats and dogs in the urban and suburban regions of Qom province, Iran. Faecal samples of 220 dogs and 120 cats were examined for oocysts by formalin ether sedimentation method and Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique. The prevalence was 3.18% for dogs and 10.83% for cats. The oocysts were found in 8.16% diarrhoeic dogs and 27.27% diarrhoeic cats compared to 1.75% and 4.59% non-diarrhoeic dogs (P = 0.024) and cats, respectively (p<0.001). Prevalence was significantly higher in cats below one-year of age (27.77%) than in older cats (7.84%, P = 0.012). There was a significant difference between prevalence of cryptosporidiosis between indoor or outdoor reared animals. Dogs in rural areas had a higher infection rate (5.66%) than dogs in urban regions (0.87%, P = 0.043). The results showed that cryptosporidiosis is an important infection to be considered in differential diagnosis for diarrhoea in cats and dogs in this region. As cryptosporidiosis is a zoonotic disease, owners and veterinarians should be aware of its health considerations.