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==Description==

==Description==

Equine coccidiosis is an infection of the intestinal tract of equids by the protozoal organism ''Eimeria leukarti''. Infection follows the ingestion of sporulated oocysts in contaminated food or water. After exposure to bile in the small intestine, the oocysts excyst and individual sporozoites emerge. Oocysts, released as the final product of the sexual reproductive cycle are shed in the faeces and are infective to new hosts. The prepatent period is 16-35 days. Coccidia are a common incidental findings in normal foals aged 30-125 days and suggest that this organism does not cause clinical signs in foals.  

Equine coccidiosis is an infection of the intestinal tract of equids by protozoa of the genera ''Eimeria''. Horses may be infected by 3 species of ''Eimeria''; ''Eimeria leukarti'', ''E. solipedum'' and ''E. uniungulsti''. The most common coccidial oocyst identified in equine faeces is that of ''E. leukarti''. The prepatent period of infection by the protozoa is 16-35 days. Infection follows the ingestion of sporulated oocysts in contaminated food or water. After exposure to bile in the small intestine, the oocysts excyst and individual sporozoites emerge. Oocysts, released as the final product of the sexual reproductive cycle are shed in the faeces and are infective to new hosts. Coccidia are a common incidental findings in normal foals aged 30-125 days and suggest that this organism does not cause clinical signs in foals.  

==Clinical signs==

==Clinical signs==

Clinical signs associated with the condition occur due to the damaged intestinal epithelium and connective tissue underlying the mucosa. These may include profuse diarrhoea, weight loss, ventral oedema

Clinical signs associated with the condition occur due to the damaged intestinal epithelium and connective tissue underlying the mucosa. These may include profuse diarrhoea, weight loss, ventral oedema, intestinal haemorrhage and catarrhal inflammation of the intestinal tract.