Review of Some Veterinary Zoonotic Parasites in Iraq

Zoonotic parasites are those that can infect humans and live on other animals. Several species, including goats, horses, cattle, and pigs, were later domesticated for meat or dairy products, which contributed to the spread of these diseases. Zoonosis is the term used to describe the spread of disease from one species to another as a result of contact between these two groups. The most zoonotic protozoa found in Iraq are Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium parvum, Toxoplasma gondii and leishmania spp. The main zoonotic helminths are trematodes, cestodes, and nematodes. Trematodes include Fasciola hepatica Cestodes include Echinococcus granulosus, Taenia spp., Diphyllobothrium latum, Dipylidium caninum and Hymenolepis nana. Nematodes are Ancylostoma caninum, Toxocara caninium and Trichuris trichiura.