Investigation of the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in dogs in Edirne region

Objective: Cryptosporidium spp. is a globally distributed protozoan parasite that causes gastrointestinal diseases in both humans and animals. It primarily infects the epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract and leads to severe infections, especially in young or immunocompromised animals. Due to its zoonotic nature, widespread prevalence, and ease of environmental transmission, Cryptosporidium spp. is considered a significant pathogen requiring control measures. This study aimed to investigate the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. in dogs from the Edirne region of Türkiye. Material and Methods: A total of 100 dogs of different ages and sexes from the Edirne region, including 86 healthy and 14 diarrheic animals, were included in the study. Fecal samples collected from the dogs were stained using the Kinyoun Acid-Fast staining technique and examined microscopically for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts. Results: Microscopic analysis revealed the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in 5 out of 100 fecal samples (5%). The distribution of positive cases was evaluated based on age, sex, and fecal consistency; however, statistical analysis showed no significant association between Cryptosporidium positivity and these variables. Conclusion: The findings show that Cryptosporidium spp. infection is seen at a rate of 5% in dogs in the Edirne region. The study is important in terms of the epidemiological impression of the agent in the region and it has been concluded that it can be a reference for future Cryptosporidium prevalence studies on dogs.