Clinical Coccidiosis in Adult Cattle

J Parasit Dis (July-Sept 2015) 39(3):557–559
DOI 10.1007/s12639-013-0395-1
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Clinical coccidiosis in adult cattle

B. Sudhakara Reddy • S. Sivajothi •
V. C. Rayulu
Received: 3 October 2013 / Accepted: 4 November 2013 / Published online: 26 November 2013
Ó Indian Society for Parasitology 2013
Abstract Coccidiosis is caused by the protozoan parasite animals where as the immune status plays a role in the
belongs to the genous Eimeria spp. which parasitizes the protection of older animals. Infection occasionally occurs
epithelium lining of the alimentary tract. Infection damages in calves over 6 months of age or even in adult cattle.
the lining of the gut causing diarrhoea and possibly dys- Many cattle are sub clinically infected, resulting in con-
entery. Coccidiosis is primarily a disease of young animals siderable economic losses (Joyner et al. 1966). It occurs
but can affect older animals that are in poor condition. In a commonly in overcrowded conditions, but also occurs in
farm, seven adult cattle had foul smell bloody diarrhoea, free-ranging conditions that have congregating areas, such
anorexia, emaciation condition, smudging of the perineum as feed grounds and watering areas. Coccidiosis is
and tail with blood stained dung. Laboratory examinations uncommon in adult cattle but occasional cases and some-
of the dung samples revealed the presence of coccidian times, epidemics of disease have been reported in dairy
oocysts. Animals were treated with 33.33 % (w/v) sul- cows (Fox et al. 1991). Coccidiosis is transmitted from
phadimidine, along with supportive and fluid therapy. After animal to animal by the faeco-oral route. Infected faecal
completion of 1 week of therapy all the affected cattle were material contaminating feed, water, or soil serves as carrier
recovered from the diarrhoea. of the oocysts; therefore, the susceptible animal contracts
the disease by eating and drinking, or by licking itself. The
Keywords Coccidiosis Adult cattle Treatment severity of clinical disease depends on the number of oo-
cysts ingested. The more oocysts ingested, the more severe
the disease. The prevalence of coccidiosis in cattle and
Introduction buffaloes has been well reported from different parts of
India (Nambiar and Devada 2002; Singh and Agarwal
Bovine coccidiosis is one of the major constraints to live- 2003), but the information regarding the reports of coc-
stock productivity. It is responsible for considerable mor- cidiosis in adult cattle seems to be very little. Present
bidity and mortality in bovine population, particularly in communication is report on the occurrence of coccidiosis
calves aged upto 1 year. Nearly all cattle are infected with in adult cattle and its treatment.
coccidia, but only a limited number of cattle suffers from
clinical coccidiosis. The disease occurs mainly in young
Case history and observations
B. Sudhakara Reddy (&)

Seven Ongole cross breed cattle aged between five to six
Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, College of Veterinary
Science, Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Proddatur, years had history of bloody diarrhoea with foul odour,
Y.S.R. District 516360, Andhra Pradesh, India anorexia and weakness for last 2 days in a shed containing
e-mail: bhavanamvet@gmail.com of 78 cattle in a farm. In these, four cattle were recently
introduced into the farm, after a long journey by lorry. The
S. Sivajothi V. C. Rayulu
Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Sri Venkateswara clinical examination of the sick animals revealed
Veterinary University, Proddatur, India high temperature (103–105.2°F), increased heart rate
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558 J Parasit Dis (July-Sept 2015) 39(3):557–559
(82–94/min), weak pulse, normal respiratory rate (16–22/

min), suncken eye balls, dehydration, normal rumen
motility and diminished milk yield. All the cattle had
emaciation condition, smudging of the perineum and tail
with blood stained dung, congested congenctival mucus
membranes with normal lymph nodes. In two cattle during
passage of dung, blood clotsin the dung, straining and
tenesmus was also noticed. Dung samples (5–10 gm) were
collected from all the adult affected cattle according to the
techniques described by Mundt et al. (2005). All the
samples were processed qualitatively by direct smear
method, floatation technique for the presence of parasitic
ova as demonstrated by Zajac and Conboy (2006). Labo-
Fig. 2 Eimeria spp. in dung sample (40X)
ratory examination of the dung samples were positive for
coccidian oocysts (Figs. 1, 2). To know about the severity
of infection each dung sample was examined by the watery diarrhoea, dehydration, marked anemia in gastro-
modified McMaster technique to obtain the number of intestinal infection with Eimeria bovis. Dung samples were
oocysts per gram of faeces (OPG). Samples were positive positive for coccidian oocysts, the maximum oocyst OPG
for coccidian oocysts, the maximum oocysts OPG count count observed was 32,000 and the minimum count as
observed was 32,000 and the minimum count as 18,000. 18,000. Similar findings were reported by Boughton (1945)
who conducted studies in order to record the spread of
coccidiosis from carrier to clinical cases in cattle. Ded-
Treatment and discussion rickson (2002) reported clinical coccidiosis is a parasitic
disease associated with bloody diarrhoea, poor growth and
Based on the history, clinical signs, clinical examination of sometimes death. Infected animals were isolated from the
the cattle and microscopic examination of dung samples, other animals to avoid exposure to other cattle and treat-
confirmed that cattle were suffering with clinical coccidi- ment was started to the affected animals. All the affected
osis. Clinical Coccidiosis was commonly prevalent in cattle were treated with 33.33 % (w/v) sulphadimidine @
animals under 1 year age old and susceptibility to infection 100 mg/kg body weight IV for 7 days, inj zeet @ 0.5 mg/kg
sharply declined with advancement of age because of (chlorpheniramine maleate) IM for 7 days, Ecotas boli
previous exposure and development of immunity to the (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Lactobacillus sporogenes,
disease (Nambiar and Devada 2002). A negative correla- Aspergillus oryzae, Biotin, DL-methionine, copper sul-
tion exists between age of cattle and risk of infection. phate, zinc sulphate, cobalt sulphate) two BID PO for
Younger animals depicted higher prevalence (27.23 %) of 2 weeks, inj. Stryptochrome (adenochrome mono semi-
coccidial infection than older animals (15.65 %) as repor- carbazone) 8 ml IM for first 2 days of therapy, parentral
ted by Cicek et al. (2007). Higher oocysts counts have been haematinics inj. feritas (Iron sorbitol citric acid complex,
observed in immature as compared to adults (Waruiru et al. folic acid, hydroxocobalamin acetate) @ 7 ml to each
2000). Gasmir et al. (2006) noticed profuse foul smelling animal at alternate days was given. To counteract the
electrolyte loss, fluids were given (DNS @5 ml/kg body
weight and Ringers lactate @ 5 ml/kg body weight) for
first 3 days of therapy. Mancebo et al. (2002) reported
Sulfadimidine (sulfamezathine) has better therapeutic
efficacy against E. bovis. By the third day of therapy
condition was improved with reduction in frequency of
diarrhoea. Following treatment, in five animals’ condition
was improved significantly, absence of bloody diarrhoea,
increasing milk yield and general activity. After comple-
tion of therapy again dung samples were examined, which
did not reveal any parasitic oocysts. But in two animals
partial recovery was noticed by absence of diarrhoea, but
the animal had anorexia and dullness. In these two cases
metronidazole @ 10 mg/kg body weight IV BID for 3 days
Fig. 1 Eimeria spp. in dung sample (10X) was given to counteract the secondary anaerobic bacterial
123
J Parasit Dis (July-Sept 2015) 39(3):557–559 559
infection. Improvement was noticed in the two animals Gasmir GS, Osman AY, El-Amin, Zakia EA (2006) Pathological
after the above therapy. changes in bovine coccidiosis in experimentally infected zebu
calves. Sudan J Vet Res 15:256–257
Joyner LP, Norton CC, Davis SF, Watkins CV (1966) The species of
coccidia occurring in cattle and sheep in south-west of England.
Conclusion Parasitology 56:531–541
Mancebo OA, Acevedo CM, Rossiter A, Suartz MD, Guardia N,
Russo AM, Monzon CM, Bulman GM (2002) Coccidiosis in
Present communication reports the Coccidiosis in adult goat kids in province of Formosa, Argentina. Vet Argentina
cattle and its therapeutic management. 19:342–348
Mundt HC, Bangoura B, Rinke M, Rosenbrouch M, Daugschies A
(2005) Pathology and treatment of Eimeria Zuernii coccidiosis in
claves: investigation in an infection model. Parasitol Int
54(4):223–230
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J Parasit Dis (July-Sept 2015) 39(3):557–559

Clinical coccidiosis in adult cattle

B. Sudhakara Reddy (&)

(82–94/min), weak pulse, normal respiratory rate (16–22/

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