Mohammad Ali Mohaghegh
1, Mohsen Ghomashlooyan
1, Mohammad Reza Vafayi
1, Zahra Chizari
1, Roghiyeh Faridnia
1, Rasool Jafari
1, Mohammad Falahati
1, Mehdi Azami, Hamed Kalani
1*1 Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IR Iran
2 Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IR Iran
*Corresponding Author: * Corresponding author: Hamed Kalani, Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IR Iran. Tel: +98-9360461788, Fax: +98-3136688597, , Email:
hamed.kalani@yahoo.com
Abstract
Cystoisospora spp., formerly known as Isospora spp., are coccidian parasitic protozoan with several species infecting a wide variety of
organisms such as humans, felines and canines. This study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of Cystoisospora spp. oocystsin
the soil collected from Kermanshah city, the west of Iran. One hundred and ninety-two soil samples were collected from six regions
of Kermanshah city, including two regions in the city center as well as one region in each of the east, south, north and west regions.
Regarding that this study was first of its kind in this region, the sampling method was according to judgmental sampling. Overall,
from each region, 32 soil samples were collected, 16 of which were obtained from public parks and 16 other ones from primary
schools. The Cystoisospora spp. oocysts were isolated from soil samples using the flotation method, then stained temporarily and
permanently with Lugol’s solution and modified Ziehl-Neelsen methods, respectively, and examined under a light microscope. Out
of 192 soil samples, 15 (7.8 %) cases were infected withCystoisospora spp. oocysts. In the public parks, the highest prevalence of oocysts
was observed in the center 1 and the south regions, both with 12.5% prevalence. Moreover, in the primary school regions, the highest
prevalence was observed in the center 2 (18.75 %) region followed by the east and west (both 12.5 %) regions. The findings of the present
study revealed the potential of Cystoisospora spp. transmission in the west of Iran, and that the contamination of soil in primary
schools was higher than public parks.