Short communication : prevalence of cryptosporidium Parvum in diarrheic camel-calves (Camelus Dromedarius)‎ in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

الملخص EN

The present study investigates the prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum in dromedary camel calves suffering from diarrhea in Al-Ahsa area of Eastern Saudi Arabia using antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ag-ELISA).

Ninety-two fecal samples collected and examined for the presence of C.

parvum antigens.

Sixteen positive samples (delta OD > 0.2) were, detected among these fecal samples representing 17.4% prevalence rate of C.

parvum among camel calves.

It is believed that, the present study represents the first report of Cryptosporidium parvum in diarrheic camel calves in Al-Ahsa area of Saudi Arabia.

The prevalence rate detected in this study suggests that this parasite could be a possible cause of camel-calf diarrhea in the study area.