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

This study presents the first morphological identification of <i>Eimeria</i> species in rodents in Iran, with findings consistent with host-parasite relationships reported globally. Additionally, the widespread presence of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> 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.