Prevalence and treatment of bovine coccidiosis

Abstract

A detailed study on the prevalence, clinical pathology and treatment of coccidial infections in cattle belonging to all age groups was undertaken at the Veterinary Hospitals, University Livestock Farm, Buffalo Breeding Station, Cattle Farm, Pattambi, KeralaAgricultural University and other localities in Thrissur during the period from June 1999 to May 2000. The prevalence of the infection was found to be 2.2 per cent. On the whole, the incidence of coccidiosis was found to be high in animals below one year, and female animals, during the rainy and humid months. Clinical signs; predominantly blood tinged or foul smelling diarrhoea and the microscopical examination of the faecal samples from suspected cases were made use of for diagnosis. Eight Eimerian species causing coccidial infections in cattle were identified and they were Eimeria bovis (35 per cent), E. zuernii (55 per cent), E. subspherica (10 per cent), E. ellipsoidalis(60 per cent), E. cylindri ca (fi ve per cent), E. bareillyi (five per cent), E. brasiliensis (five per cent) and E. wyomingensis (10 per cent). The most commonly encountered species were E. ellipsoidalis, E. bovi s, and E. zuernii. Haematological studies of clinically infected animals revealed reduction in the values of haemoglobin, packed cell volume, total leukocyte and lymphocyte counts. A reduction in serum total protein and globulin fractions was also observed during the assay of serum protein fractions in these animals. Treatment trials against bovine coccidiosis using drugs, Sulphadimidine sodium (125 mg per kg body weight for three days), Amprolium hydrochloride (20 mg per kg body weight for five days) and Salinomycin (2 mg per kg body weight for 21 days) orally resulted in nearly cent per cent efficacy in the clinically affected animals. All the three drugs were found to be equally effective.