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==Coccidia of Cattle==
==Coccidia of Cattle==
*Many species affect cattle
*Cattle under a year old are usually infected sporadically
*2-3 week prepatent period
*''Eimeria bovis''
**Endogenous stages in central lacteal of villi and epithelial cells of caecum and colon
**Causes [[Intestine Diarrhoea - Pathology|diarrhoea]] and enteritis
**Oocysts are 28x20m
*''Eimeria zuernii''
*Mainly occurs in calves in poor conditions and brought-in calves
**Also occurs in suckler calves turned out in spring
*''Eimeria alabamensis'' associated with [[Intestine Diarrhoea - Pathology|diarrhoea]] in calves after spring turnout
*[[Materno-fetal immunity - WikiBlood#Passive transfer via colostrum|Passive immunity]] is sufficient during the neonatal period
*Can be concurrent with cryptosporidium, viral and bacterial agents
'''Diagnosis'''
*History, clinical signs, [[Intestine Diarrhoea - Pathology|diarrhoea]] (often with blood) and a decrease in weight gain
*Post-mortem
**Diffuse inflammation and thickening of caecal mucosa (and sometimes ileal and colonic mucosa)
**Masses of gamonts and oocysts in scrapings
*High faecal oocyst count
**However, healthy animals can pass millions of oocysts from mixed species infections which have no pathogenic significance
**Animals may die before oocysts are shed
'''Control'''
*Improve husbandry
**Improve sanitation
**Increase bedding
**Raise faecal and water troughs to avoid faecal contamination
*Preventative in-feed medication
**E.g. Decoquinate
*Injectible antiprotozoals may limit oocyst production but animals should still be moved to a clean environment
**E.g. Sulphamethoxypyridazine
==Coccidia of Sheep==
==Coccidia of Sheep==