CRYPTOSPORIDIA IN ECTOTHERMS AND HUMAN CONTACTS

Document Type : Research article

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Abstract

Investigations were carried out on Cryptosporidiana protozoa infecting Ectotherms and their attendants in Giza zoological gardens, Giza governorate. Faecal samp < /strong>les were taken from one greek tortois (Testudo graeca), two Nile crocodile (crocodylus niloticua), one egyptian tortoise (Testudo Kleinmanni) and one Sudanese tortoise (Testu soloata). Faecal samples from nine attendants, one from each, were examined for the same purpose. Samples were stained by the modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique which revealed Cryptosporidia oocysts in one attendant (11%) and one Nile crocodile (20%). The experimental infection in mice and the measurements of oocysts of both man and Ectotherms in natural and exp < /strong>erimentally infected mice indicated the possible transmission of infection between man and ectotherms.

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