Babesiosis was studied in sheep and goats in Sulaimani city, Kurdistan -Iraq from June to September 2012. A total of 160 blood samples (135 of sheep and 25 of goats) were collected from different farms. Giemsa stained blood smears were applied to study babesiosis, also ticks were collected from external animals body surfaces. Results of this study showed that Babesia species was recorded among the small ruminants as 92/160 (57.5 %), 76/135 (56.3%) of these from sheep and 16/25 (64%) of goats. Statistically there are no significant differences between sheep and goats infection by Babesia species at (P< 0.05). According to the morphological characters four Babesia species were recorded in the study which was B. ovis, B. motasi, B. foliata, and B. taylori. One species of tick Hyalomma anatolicum was seen.

Pigeons are very well adapted and proliferate without control in urban centers. In this current study, ectoparasites and haemoparasites of 140 adult domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) of both sexes were studied, from different localities in Sulaimani province during April to October 2014, since there is no enough data regarding the frequency and identification of ectoparasites and haemoparasites in domestic pigeons in Sulaimani province. All pigeons were examined for the presence of ectoparasites and haemoparasites through checking of blood samples using Giemsa stain. As a result, various species of ectoparasites and haemoparasites were observed. From which, 4 species of lice were detected named Columbicola olumbae (62.5%) followed by Hoborstiella lata (10.42%), Campanulotes compar (4.17%) and Menacanthus stramineus (3.13%). On the other hands, 19.79% of infected pigeons with ectoparasites were diagnosed with the presence of more than 1 lice species. Additionally, examined Giemsa stained smears showed that 55.72% of studied pigeons were harbor haemoparasites including Haemoproteus species (28.20%) followed by Plasmodium species (26.92%) and then Leucocytozoon species (11.53%) consequently.

Hemosporidians are intracellular protozoan parasites found in blood cells and tissues of their avian hosts. They are worldwide distributed and occur in a variety of avian species, including domestic chicken. Blood parasites among village chickens in Qaradagh district, Sulaimani Province in Kurdistan region Iraq, were surveyed during the period of March-June for the year 2012. Haemoparasites investigation was done by microscopic examination of stained blood films which prepared from 170 local chickens (Gallus domesticus).The overall prevalence of all species of haemosporidian parasites over the studied period in tested individuals was 133 (78.2%) with 114 (85.7%) single and 19 (14.3%) mixed genera infections. Plasmodiumspp. was the most prevalent haemoparasite (52.6%) followed by Haemoproteus spp., (19.5 %) and Leucocytozoon spp. (13.5%).The study has reported high prevalence rate of haemoparasites. There isn't enough information about prevalence of avian blood parasites in the studied area, the present study detect for the first time existent of haemoparasites.

Background and Aim: Sarcocystosis is a zoonotic infection caused by various species of Sarcocystis organisms with a worldwide geographic distribution. This study investigated the presence of Sarcocystis organisms in cattle and sheep slaughtered at an abattoir in Sulaimani Province in North Iraq. Materials and Methods: A total of 130 muscle samples were collected during May, June, and July of 2020, including 80 samples from sheep and 50 samples from cattle. Samples were examined visually for macrosarcocysts. The peptic digestion method was used to analyze fresh muscle tissue samples for detecting microsarcocysts followed by microscopic examination. Furthermore, muscle samples were fixed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histopathological examination. Results: In the gross examination, macroscopic cysts were not detected in both cattle and sheep; hence, all the prevalence data were obtained through microscopic observation of muscle samples. The peptic digestion method revealed the presence of banana-shaped bradyzoites in 90% and 92.5% of slaughtered cattle and sheep muscle samples, respectively. Organ-wise prevalence revealed that 95% and 92% of esophageal samples of sheep and cattle contained Sarcocystis spp., respectively. Moreover, 90% and 88% of sheep and cattle diaphragms were respectively infected. Histopathological examination of tissue sections revealed two morphologically distinct types of microsarcocysts, including thin-walled and thick-walled, in both sheep and cattle. Conclusion: The suspected Sarcocystis spp. were Sarcocystis tenella and Sarcocystis arieticanis in sheep and Sarcocystis cruzi and Sarcocystis bovifelis or Sarcocystis hominis in cattle. Infective stages of different Sarcocystis spp. are widespread in the study area environment.

The study was conducted on 65 local adult chickens (Gallus domesticus) to investigate  macro - and microscopically presence of external and internal parasites and their prevalence in Sulaimani region-Kurdistan/Iraq from May to July 2012. Results showed that 90.77 % out of total examined chickens were infested with ecto-parasites, out of that 81.36 % (48/59) were infested with lice such as (Menacanthus  stramineus, Goniocotes  gallinae, Menopon  gallinae, Goniodes  gigas, Cuclotogaster  heterographus ) and 62.72 (37/59) of it with larval stage of soft tick such as (Argas  persicus).  Mixed infestations with more than two ecto-parasite species were detected. On the other hand 89.23% out of 65 examined chickens were infected by internal parasites including nematodes and cestodes such as (Heterakis  gallinarum which formed 81% and the remains were Ascaridia  galli, Cheilospirura  hamulosa, Capillaria  spp., Raillietina  spp., Choanotaenia  infundibulum, Amoebotaenia  sphenoides, Hymenolepis  carioca and  Davaniea  proglottina).

Theileriosis, the hemoprotozoan infection, is an endemic condition in tropical and subtropical areas. In this study, conventional PCR analysis was applied to detect the natural infection of native sheep with theileriosis and estimate its effect on hemato-biochemical parameters. The study was carried out in five regions of Sulaimani province, northern Iraq. From May to October 2021, a total of 360 blood samples were collected randomly from the jugular vein of sheep belonging to 23 flocks with a history of tick infestations. After PCR for theileriosis, the hematobiochemical parameters were evaluated by an automatic analyzer using commercial kits. The PCR results represented that 71.7% of the examined sheep were infected with Theileria parasites. The highest prevalence rate (74.6%) was reported in Said Sadiq, and the lowest prevalence (69.5%) was from Bazian. The infection rates in Mawat, Qaradagh, and Sharazoor were 73.1, 70.3, and 71.8%, respectively. The hemogram data revealed a significant decrease in erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration, and hematocrit values. Erythrocyte indices also showed significant increases in MC, MCH, and MCHC levels, but no significant differences were detected between the counting of leukocytes, lymphocytes, and granulocytes. Biochemical analysis revealed a significant decrease in total protein, albumin, and creatinine levels with a significant increase in urea and AST levels in infected sheep with theileriosis. Alteration in hemato-biochemical parameters from infected animals can outline the impact of theileriosis on body metabolism and blood factors in naturally infected sheep.

The study was carried out for eight months from May to December 2020 to identify the main ectoparasite species that infest goats; for this purpose, a total of 150 local goats (Capra hircus) were thoroughly examined for the investigation of ectoparasites from ten small ruminant flocks belonging to five districts of the Sulaymaniyah governorate in northern Iraq. The goats included in the study were determined for preimaginal and adult ectoparasite stages. The observed ectoparasites were collected and preserved separately in containers with 70% ethanol and then brought to the laboratory for identification. The ectoparasite collection was done from the following regions: the ear, shoulder, neck, back, flank, thigh, and groin region. The overall prevalence rate of ectoparasite infestation was 57.33% counting 86 animals. Three different types of ectoparasites including ticks (n = 42; 48.84%), lice (n = 37; 43.02%), and fleas (n = 7; 8.14%), were identified. The higher infestation rate was due to hard ticks (Ixodidae). The identified ticks belonged to five species and Rhipicephalus spp. were widely distributed with the highest reported numbers as follows: Rhipicephalus sanguinaus 14 (16.28%), R. turanicus 11 (12.79%), R. bursa 7 (8.14%), Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus 4 (4.65%), and Hyalomma anatolicum 6 (6.98%). Two species of lice belonging to sucking lice, Linognathus stenopsis 22 (25.58%) and chewing lice of Bovicola caprae 15 (17.44%), were reported. The only identified flea species from the study was Ctenocephalides canis which was reported in 7 (8.14%). Recognized ectoparasites affect the health status and productivity of goats.