Occurs mainly in young sheep, cattle, goats and pigs. Lesions occur in the mucosa of the intestinal tract. Characterised in ruminants by scouring, anaemia and ill thrift. In pigs, it has been shown to be an important cause of scouring in 10-21 day old suckers in some herds.

Diagnosis

Based on clinical signs, impression smears of intestine (acute), demonstration of large numbers of coccidia in faeces (chronic), and histopathology. In acute coccidiosis, oocysts are often not yet present in faeces, and impression smears of affected intestine and histopathology are recommended.

In pigs, oocysts may be difficult to detect in faeces during the diarrhoeal phase, and a definitive diagnosis can be made by examination of small intestinal smears of a typically-affected pig.

Specimens required

1. Faecal sample for oocyst count.
2. In piglets, and other animals with acute coccidiosis, obtain 5-10 impression smears of ileum and jejunum and air dry.
3. Portions of intestines (e.g. ileum, jejunum) showing lesions in buffered formalin for histopathology.