567 October 2024. Volume 18. Number 4 Somayeh Chamanara 1 , Fatemeh Arabkhazaeli 1* , Hamed Mirjalali 2 , Sayed Ahmad Madani 3 , Mohammadreza Haddadmarandi 4 , Seyed Mohammad Mahdi Hashemian 4 , Narges Amininia 1 1. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. 2. Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 3. Department of Animal and Poultry Health and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. 4. Central Veterinary Laboratory, Tehran, Iran. * Corresponding Author: Fatemeh Arabkhazaeli, Assistant Professor. Address: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. Phone: +98 (21) 61117049 E-mail: farab@ut.ac.ir Original Article Molecular Survey of Microsporidia, Blastocystis, Cryptosporidium and Giardia in Pet Avian Species in Tehran, Iran Background: Opportunistic microorganisms of the intestinal tract, such as Cryptosporidium spp. Giardia spp. Blastocystis sp. and microsporidia, are increasingly responsible for clinical disorders in various host species, including humans. Objectives: This study was conducted to search for the above parasites in the feces of pet birds using parasitological and molecular methods in Tehran City, Iran. Methods: In the current study, fecal samples of avian birds were collected and investigated with modified Ziehl-Neelsen, modified trichrome, and trichrome staining for the presence of microsporidia, Cryptosporidium, Blastocystis and Giardia. All the samples were examined molecularly with specific primers and PCR methods. Results: Three of the examined droppings contained Encephalitozoon hellem genotype 1B (2%) by PCR and sequencing. The microsporidian organisms were recovered from the droppings of a clinically normal green-cheek parakeet, an African gray parrot, and a lovebird. Other parasites that were examined were not found in the analyzed samples. Conclusion: The current study proved that captive pet birds are a possible source of microsporidian infection. Besides the fact that encephalitozoonosis is predominantly subclinical in birds, the highly resistant nature of the microsporidia spores can put the owners at increased risk of disease acquisition via spore inhalation or ingestion. Keywords: Blastocystis, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Microsporidia, Zoonosis A B S T R A C T How to Cite This Article Chamanara, S., Arabkhazaeli, F., Mirjalali, H., Madani, S. A., Haddadmarandi, M., & Hashem- ian, S. M. M., et al. (2024). Molecular Survey of Microsporidia, Blastocystis, Cryptosporidium and Giardia in Pet Avian Species in Tehran, Iran. Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 18(4), 567-578. http://dx.doi.org/10.32598/ijvm.18.4.1005439 http://dx.doi.org/10.32598/ijvm.18.4.1005439 Use your device to scan and read the article online Article info: Received: 28 Aug 2023 Accepted: 18 Oct 2023 Publish: 01 Oct 2024 Copyright © 2024 The Author(s); This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-By-NC: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/legalcode.en), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.