Eimeriosis in dairy cattle farms in Morogoro municipality of Tanzania
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Date
1996-10
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier Science B.V.
Abstract
Coccidial oocysts were detected in 35% of 445 cattle in four medium-scale and 20 small-scale
dairy farms in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania. The highest prevalence (56%) was observed in
animals aged between 5 and 18 months, whereas lower prevalences were observed in calves (29%)
aged between 12 days and 4 months and adults (30%). No coccidial oocysts were detected in
calves less than 12 days old. The oocyst output was high in calves, followed by weaners; adults
had the lowest oocyst output. The number of oocysts per gram of faeces was significantly higher
(P < 0.001) in diarrhoeic animals than in non-diarrhoeic animals, and more so in young calves.
Eimeria species infecting the animals included Eimeria bovis (68%) and Eimeria zuemii (57%),
Eimeria ellipsoidalis (25%), Eimeria cylindrica (23%), Eimeria aubumensis (22%), Eimeria
alabamensis (12%) and Eimeria subspherica (5%). Mixed infections involving two or three
species were common. Our findings indicate that eimeriosis is common in cattle in Morogoro
municipality. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
Description
Keywords
Eimeria, Cattle, Prevalence, Tanzania