Cryptosporidiosis and Toxoplasmosis in Native Quails of Egypt

摘要

Cryptosporidium spp. and Toxoplasma gondii are public health important protozoan parasites. The presence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts and anti- Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in fecal and serum samples from native quails in different farms in Giza, Egypt has been carried out, respectively for the first time in Egypt., through the parasitological and serological examination. The extent of Cryptosporidium oocysts invasion was found to be 31.9% (lower extent 30.8% in bobwhite and higher 33.3% in brown quails). Three Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were detected varied from small ( Cryptosporidium meleagridis ), medium ( Cryptosporidium baileyi ) and large size ( Cryptosporidium galli ). The T. gondii antibodies prevalence was 29.8 and 25.5%, using Modified Agglutination Test (MAT) and Latex Agglutination Test (LAT), respectively (lower prevalence 25.5 and 22.4% in bobwhite while higher prevalence 34.4 and 28.8% in brown quails). The obtained results indicated that Egyptian quails are reservoirs for both zoonotic Cryptosporidium spp. and Toxoplasma gondii . So that, it is imperative for human to avoid consuming insufficiently cooked quail meat. Also fecal contamination from quail should be controlled.