Background: Cyclospora can be transferred via water- and food-borne routes, and it causes diseases; therefore, it is considered a major public health concern worldwide.
Aim: The objectives of this study were to detect Cyclospora in water using microscopic examination and molecular biology and to determine the relationship between Cyclospora in the current research and Cyclospora registered in GenBank based on the phylogenetic tree.
Methods: Sixty-five water samples (35 house tanks and 30 tap water) were collected from Mosul city's left and right sides between September 2023 and March 2024.
Results: The present study indicates that the prevalence of Cyclospora in water in Mosul City, based on microscopic examination, was 49.2%. The highest occurrence of Cyclospora in water was observed on the right side at 54.5%, while the lowest occurrence, at 43.8%, was observed on the left side. Furthermore, the occurrence of Cyclospora was 68.6% in house tank water samples was 68.6%, while in tap water samples, it was 26.7%. Furthermore, the PCR as revealed that Cyclospora was detected in 3.13% (1 of 32) of the water samples collected from Mosul. A novel strain of Cyclospora has been registered in the NCBI GenBank.
Conclusion: Proper hygiene during water sterilization and storage can help keep water uncontaminated for an extended period.
Keywords: Cyclospora; Molecular detection; Phylogenetic analysis; Water.