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COCCIDIOSIS
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You should seek the advice of
your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise
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Description
Coccidiosis is a disease which affects many species of animal, and can have
serious health and economic consequences - particularly in groups of animals
such as Poultry. Coccidia are microscopic single-celledparasites (called
protozoa) that live within cells and are usually found in the intestinal tract.
Cause
Different species of coccidia can infect herbivores, birds, lagomorphs (rabbits)
and rodents (e.g. Guinea Pigs). Unusual forms of coccidia may be found in cat or
dog faeces in which case the coccidial oocysts have been ingested from one of
these other species in which case they pass though without causing disease.
Dogs are infected by I.canis, I.ohioensis, I.burrowsi and I.neorivolta.
Cats are infected by I.felis and I rivolta
Guinea Pigs are usually infected with Eimeria caviae
Breed Incidence
There is no breed susceptibility to infection
Signs
Diarrhoea is the usual sign associated with coccidial infection, and in severe
cases this leads to weight loss, dehydration and sometimes haemorrhage. In some
species (e.g. dog and cat) the presence of disease associated with coccidia may
be secondary to immune compromise, so a search for an underlying cause should be
made.
Lifecycle
Coccidia have a sexual and an asexual phase to their lifecycle and sometimes these occur in different host species (as with Sarcocystis), in other cases (e.g. Isospora) both phases occur in the same host. In the case of cats infected with Isospora felis , for example, oocysts may be passed by the cat and reingested by the same or another cat, or they may be ingested by an intermediate host (rodent - mouse) which is subsequently eaten by a cat.
The oocysts shed into the environment are very resistant to freezing
Diagnosis
Identification of oocysts in faecal samples using faecal
flotation (link to diagnosis/faecal flotation) techniques.
Treatment
Fluid therapy for dehydration or blood transfusion if necessary for severe blood loss
Treat underlying cause of immune suppression if there is one.
Coccidiostatic drugs - stop their growth.e.g. sulphonamides (e.g. sulphadimidine) , trimethoprim-sulphonamide combinations, nitrofurazone. Amprolium is used by some veterinarians to control outbreaks in kennels (though it is not licensed for use in dogs).
Guinea Pigs - treat with sulphadimidine 2% in drinking water for 7-10 days.
Prevention
Good basic hygiene. Remove and incinerate faeces daily. Steam cleaning of
environment and feeding utensils is needed
Long term problems
Updated
January 2016
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