First Morphological Identification of Eimeria spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. in Different Wild Rodent Species from Central and Northwest Iran.

OBJECTIVE

Wild rodents act as important hosts and reservoirs for both zoonotic and non-zoonotic pathogens, playing a key role in maintaining and transmitting infectious agents in nature. Their presence can lead to contamination of food and water sources, affecting both humans and animals.

METHODS

This study examined 138 dead rodents from six species (Microtus socialis, Rattus norvegicus, Mus musculus, Meriones libycus, Apodemus witherbyi, and Ellobius lutescens) collected from three regions in Iran. Fecal samples were analyzed for Eimeria spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. using potassium dichromate cultivation and sugar flotation for Eimeria, and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining for Cryptosporidium.

RESULTS

The infection rate for Eimeria spp. was 5.79%, and the identified species included E. falciformis, E. papillata, E. miyairii, E. musculoidei, and E. hungaryensis. For Cryptosporidium spp., a 4.34% infection rate was observed. While Eimeria infections were limited to three rodent species, Cryptosporidium was detected in all six.

CONCLUSION

This study presents the first morphological identification of Eimeria species in rodents in Iran, with findings consistent with host-parasite relationships reported globally. Additionally, the widespread presence of Cryptosporidium spp. in multiple rodent species emphasizes the epidemiological importance of these animals as potential reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens. These results contribute to a better understanding of protozoan diversity and distribution in rodent populations of Iran.