en تخصصي Special Original article Original article <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><strong>Background: </strong><em>Cryptosporidium </em>spp. is one of the most important parasitic pathogen which causes acute gastroenteritis in human. This study aimed to determine and compare the contamination rates of <em>Cryptosporidium </em>oocysts in some common vegetables that are cultured and consumed in Koya City, Iraq.<br> <strong>Methods:</strong> Totally, 400 vegetable samples were collected randomly from vegetable farms in Koya city during spring and summer, 2016. The vegetables, including celery, parsley, leek, radish, and green onion were examined for the presence of <em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp. by Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast staining method. Data were analyzed by SPSS statistical software (version 21).<br> <strong>Results:</strong> The prevalence rate of <em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp. oocysts in parsley, celery, leek, radish, and green onion were 6.25, 7.50, 6.25, 6.25, and 6.25%, respectively, showing no significant differences (<em>p</em>>0.05). Also, <em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp. oocysts were detected in 12 out of 200 (6%) samples from spring and 14 out of 200 (7%) samples from summer, without any significant difference (<em>p</em>>0.05). &nbsp;<br> <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Our findings highlighted that if the proper washing as well as disinfecting actions are neglected before consumption of the vegetables, consumption of raw vegetables could be potentially hazardous, inducing <em>Cryptosporidium</em> infection in Iraqi people.<br> <br> <strong>DOI:</strong> 10.29252/jfqhc.5.3.89</span></span></div> Cryptosporidium, Prevalence, Vegetables, Iraq 89 93 http://jfqhc.ssu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-656-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 H. Sleman Ali No Department of Health Prevention, Koya Technical Institute, Koya City-Erbil, Iraq S.N. Mageed No Department of Medical Microbiology, Koya University, University Park, Koya City-Erbil, Iraq Gh.R. Jahed Khaniki ghjahed@sina.tums.ac.ir Yes Division of Food Safety and Hygiene, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran N. Shariatifar No Division of Food Safety and Hygiene, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran M. Yunesian No Division of Food Safety and Hygiene, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran M. Rezaeian No Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran K.Kh. Saleh No Department of Health Prevention, Koya Technical Institute, Koya City-Erbil, Iraq