Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part B (2025)

The present study determined the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in the gallbladder fluid and sheep tissue from the Dalouya and Balad districts of Salah al-Din Governorate, Iraq.
A total of 220 sheep gallbladder fluid samples were examined using the modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique, which microscopically confirmed the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts.
The results indicate that the overall prevalence was 34.55% (76 out of 220 samples). The infection rate was higher in females (39.68%) than in males (32.48%), suggesting a potential relationship between sex and susceptibility to infection. Histopathological examination of infected gallbladder tissues revealed significant changes, including necrosis, cellular infiltration, vacuolation, fibrin deposition, and vascular congestion.