الفهرس 
Acknowledgments
History of Cryptosporidium spp. and Toxoplasma gondiiOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
A total of 105 random samples of raw milk were collected from different localities in Assiut city. These samples including marketable, goat and sheep milk (35 samples of each). These samples were examined for the incidence of Cryptosporidium species and Toxoplasma gondii by using three different methods including microscopical examination, molecular detection using Polymerase chain reaction and seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies in milk samples.
The recorded data revealed that the incidence of Cryptosporidium spp. in raw marketable milk samples based on microscopic examination was 31.43% (11/35) and 17.14% (6/35) of the examined samples. While in sheep milk samples were 31.43% (11/35) and 25.71% (9/35). In raw goat milk samples was 20% (7/35) using Modified Kinyoun’s acid fast stain and 22.86% (8/35) using Giemsa stain, respectively.
Cryptosporidium spp. using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was detected in 11.43 % (4 /35) of marketable milk samples where 2 (5.71%) of them were C. parvum (both of them contain virulence factor gp60 gene and one of them contain virulence factor Hsp70 gene, 1 (2.86%) for each C. bovis and C. andersoni. In sheep milk samples C. parvum was detected in 2.86% of samples with virulence factors gp60 gene and Hsp70 gene. C. parvum was detected in 5.71% in goat milk samples and both of them contain virulence factor gp60 gene and one of them contain virulence factor Hsp70 gene.
The overall incidence of Cryptosporidium spp. in 105 raw milk samples tested by Modified Kinyoun’s acid fast stain, Giemsa stain and PCR assay, was 27.62, 21.90 and 6.67%, respectively.
Regarding T. gondii by microscopic examination, it was found that out of 35 examined marketable raw milk samples, 7 (20%) and 6 (17.14%) were contaminated with T. gondii using Methylene blue stain and Giemsa stain, respectively. The incidence of T. gondii in the examined 35 raw milk samples of sheep was 37.14% (13) and 34.29% (12). While, the results of 35 raw milk samples of goat were 10 (28.57%) and 9 (25.71%).
Using Latex agglutination test, the incidence of T. gondii antibodies in marketable, sheep and goat milk samples was 5.71% (2/ 35), 14.29% (5/ 35) and 17.14 (6/ 35), respectively
T. gondii DNA was detected in 5.71% (2/35) of marketable milk samples and both of them contain SAG3 and ROP18 virulence factors of T. gondii and only one contain GRA25, while in sheep milk samples T. gondii DNA was detected in 11.43% (4/35) and 3 of them contain SAG3, GRA25 and ROP18 virulence factors of T. gondii. Regarding goat milk samples, T. gondii DNA was detected in 14.29% (5/35) and all of them contain ROP18 virulence factor, 4 of them contain SAG3 virulence factor and 3 contain GRA25 virulence factor.
The overall incidence of T. gondii in 105 raw milk samples tested by Methylene blue stain, Giemsa stain, Latex agglutination test and PCR assay, was 28.57, 25.71, 12.38 and 10.48%, respectively. The incidence obtained in the present study was considered high (28.57%) using Methylene blue stain in comparison to that of Latex agglutination test.
Incidence of Cryptosporidium spp., Toxoplasma gondii and mixed infestation in raw (marketable, sheep and goat) milk samples was 42.86, 48.57and 18.10%, respectively. Finally, milk gave good indication for the presence of the parasites.