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== Introduction ==
Many species of [[:Category:Coccidia|coccidia]] have been found present in geese, both farmed and wild. It is a more severe problem in goslings, from between 3 - 12 weeks of age, in which mortality will occur frequently. Coccidia is frequently introduced into domestic flocks by migrating wild geese, which are resistant to the disease.
There are two strains ''[[Eimeria spp.|Eimeria]] truncata'' and ''E. anseris'', which are of most pathogenic importance, with the latter causing intestinal disease and ''E. truncata'' causing renal coccidiosis.
[[Category:Alimentary Diseases - Birds]][[Category:Coccidia]] [[Category:To_Do_-_Clinical]]
== Clinical Signs ==
'''Renal Coccidiosis'''<br>Signs include severe depression such as reduced appetite and huddling, emaciation and diarrhoea. Mortality rates are high, however, birds that recover from the infection remain strongly resistant to it for life.
'''Intestinal Coccidiosis<br>'''Signs include depression, weakness and general malaise. Haemorrhagic diarrhoea is also seen. There are high morbidity rates within the flock, but mortality rates are not as high as with renal coccidiosis. The presence of concurrent infections would increase risk of mortality.
== Diagnosis ==
History and clinical signs, along with a post mortem of a sick bird (which will have been sacrificed for this purpose) should lead to a presumptive diagnosis. In the case of renal coccidiosis, post mortem will reveal enlarged, pale grey coloured kidneys, with petechial haemorrhages on the capsule and tubules. Intestinal coccidiosis will have characteristic caseous core lesions on the intestines as well as them being enlarged and filled with a reddish brown fluid.
Examination of a sample of the effected area under a microscope should reveal the oocysts and confirm the diagnosis.
== Treatment and Control ==
Control is based on good hygiene and husbandry such as good ventilation and trying to reduce the risk of wild geese contaminating the area.
Treatment, if required, is a dose of sulphonamides. Other anitcoccidial drugs should not be used as their safety in this species is unknown.
== References ==
Merck & Co (2008) The Merck Veterinary Manual (Eighth Edition) Merial <br>Jordan, F, Pattison, M, Alexander, D, Faragher, T (1999) Poultry Diseases (Fifth edition) W.B. Saunders<br>Saif, Y.M. (2008) Disease of Poultry (Twelfth edition) Blackwell Publishing
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[[Category:Alimentary_Diseases_-_Birds]][[Category:Urological Diseases - Birds]][[Category:Expert_Review - Bird]]