Cryptosporidiosis caused by Cryptosporidium protozoa is a widespread intestinal disease that affects both humans and animals globally. Direct contact or contaminated food and water can spread infectious parasitic oocysts, which are excreted in the feces of infected individuals and can live in harsh environments. It is challenging to remove the parasite from polluted surroundings because of the oocyst’s small size, flexibility, persistence, and resistance to standard disinfectants. Both the inactivation of oocysts and treatment of infected individuals are required to achieve adequate control. However, few medications are used to treat cryptosporidiosis in animals and several medications are frequently used to treat disease in humans. Unfortunately, none of them fully addresses the parasitological and clinical response. Therefore, control of cryptosporidiosis remains a global challenge in both veterinary and human medicine. New alternative compounds are needed to treat cryptosporidiosis because existing chemotherapeutic treatments are not very effective. Plant products are considered efficient sources for their treatment as they are environment-friendly, non-toxic, and have wide therapeutic potential. The current review will focus on plant-based extracts with their minimum side effects and multifaceted bioactivity, representing a suitable alternative in combating cryptosporidiosis. Plant acts through different mechanisms and several studies are summarized here.

To Cite This Article: Alawfi BS, 2025. Antiprotozoal Activity of Plant Extracts and their Bioactive Compounds against Cryptosporidium of Zoonotic Concern. Pak Vet J. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2025.113