Detection of oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp in gall bladder of sheep slaughtered in Mosul, Iraq

The current study revealed the presence of oocysts of Cryptosporidium in the fluid and tissue of gall bladder of sheepwhich is slaughtered in Mosul city by using different diagnostic techniques, including direct smear method, staining method bymodified Zeil-Nelseen stain, scraping of mucosal layer of gall bladder and histological examination, the percentage ofinfection 20% and there were significant differences in the percentages of infection between gall bladder 20% and fecalsamples 41%. The histological study showed that the oocyst of Cryptosporidium was attached on the surface of the epithelialcells of gall bladder. The high percentage of infection appeared in ewes was 30% and there was no significant differences inthe infection of gall bladder between rams and ewes.