Coccidiosis
Causative agent – Eimeria bovis, Eimeria zurnii
coccidia – protozoa – parasite
Ubiquitous and found in healthy animals
Harbored in the intestinal tract and shed oocysts in the feces
oocysts ingested by young which destroy cells lining the lower intestinal tract
Occurrence - Young animals
Overcrowding, unsanitary conditions
stress due to weaning, shipping 2-3 weeks after arrival in feedlot
abrupt changes in feed and weather
other diseases
Clinical Signs/Symptoms – Diarrhea may be stained with blood or mucus (sloughing off
intestinal cells)
Anorexia
Thin watery feces
Arched back, strain to pass fecal material
Frequent defication and possibly prolapse
Animals become weak, listless and dehydrated
Severe – death within 6 days
Those that survive 10-14 days usually survive
Detection – Clinical signs
Prevention – Avoid feed and water contamination with coccidia
Segregate affected animals
Remove and properly dispose of contaminate manure daily
Drain wet areas, keep animals in sunny dry place
Treatment – Amprolium (Amprol)
Comments – Birds are carriers of coccidiosis
Called the silent thief because it exists in subclinical form (an infection not severe enough to cause bloody scours, but which reduces cattles overall performance