Occurrence and diversity of bovine coccidia at three localities in South Africa

Information on the occurrence and diversity of coccidia infecting cattle in different farming systems in South Africa is lacking. The objective of the study was to determine the levels of infection of coccidia in cattle at three localities and to determine the Eimeria species occurring at each local...

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Published inVeterinary parasitology Vol. 104; no. 2; pp. 93 - 102
Main Authors Matjila, P.T, Penzhorn, B.L
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.03.2002
Subjects
Age Factors
Animals
Animals, Newborn
Cattle
Cattle Diseases - epidemiology
Cattle Diseases - parasitology
Cattle-protozoa
Coccidiosis - epidemiology
Coccidiosis - veterinary
Eimeria - classification
Eimeria - isolation & purification
Eimeria spp
Epidemiology
Feces - parasitology
Prevalence
Seasons
South Africa
South Africa - epidemiology
South Africa
Cattle-protozoa
South Africa
Epidemiology
Eimeria spp
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Summary:Information on the occurrence and diversity of coccidia infecting cattle in different farming systems in South Africa is lacking. The objective of the study was to determine the levels of infection of coccidia in cattle at three localities and to determine the Eimeria species occurring at each locality. Faecal samples ( n=1936) were collected over a 13-month period from a dairy farm (Mallesons), a Bonsmara breeding farm (Kaalplaas) and a Nguni stud farm (Pienaars River). Samples were collected from adults >24 months old and calves <12 months old. The modified McMaster technique was used to determine OPG (oocysts per gram) of faeces. Samples with OPGs ≥2000 were allowed to sporulate in potassium dichromate solution at room temperature. Species identification was done by measurement and morphological characteristic of each species. At Mallesons, 29% of samples were positive, at Kaalplaas 50% and at Pienaars River 52%. The most prevalent species were Eimeria zuernii and E. ellipsoidalis at Mallesons, E. zuernii and E. bovis at Kaalplaas and E. bovis and E. zuernii at Pienaars River, respectively. Adults had very low OPGs. There was a pattern at the three localities in that high OPGs were only recorded in calves, which were also shedding the most pathogenic species.
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ISSN:0304-4017
1873-2550
DOI:10.1016/S0304-4017(01)00605-7