This presentation was given at the Delmarva Small Ruminant Conference All Worms All Day on December 8, 2018, in Keedysville, Maryland. The presenter was Susan Schoenian.

1. Coccidia
The other parasite that will get them!
SUSAN SCHOENIAN
Sheep & Goat Specialist
University of Maryland Extension
sschoen@umd.edu
www.wormx.info

2. What is coccidia? Eimeria spp.
▪ Coccidia are microscopic parasites
called protozoa from the genus
Eimeria.
▪ Several species of Eimeria affect
sheep and goats, but not all are
pathogenic.
▪ Sheep and goats harbor their own
species of Eimeria and there is no
cross-infection.
▪ Coccidia develop in the intestinal
tract and produce oocysts (eggs)
that pass in the manure.

3. Coccidia life cycle
▪ Complex life cycle with many steps
and stages.
▪ Direct life cycle; does not require an
intermediate host.
▪ 2-4 week life cycle (avg. 21 d).
▪ Temperature, moisture, and oxygen
are all important for development.
▪ Sporulated oocysts have great
resistance in environment.
▪ Pasture tends to be safer than pens.

4. Immunity to coccidia
▪ Very young animals are relatively
immune to coccidia, due to the
protective role of maternal
antibodies.
▪ Immunity is quickly acquired and
maintained by continuous
exposure.
▪ Sheep develop strong, life-long
immunity; goats less so.
▪ Adult animals are highly resistant
to disease; however, they harbor
low numbers of the parasite.

5. How is coccidia transmitted?
▪ Transmission is oral; ingestion of
infective oocysts.
▪ Adult animals pass infective stage
of the parasite into their manure.
▪ Then, there is fecal contamination
of the environment: hay, grain,
bedding, pasture, teats, feeders,
waterers, etc.
▪ Clinical disease develops, 14-17
days after infection with
pathogenic levels of oocysts.

6. What is coccidiosis?
▪ Disease situation when large numbers of
the infective form of the protozoa
(oocysts) are ingested – overwhelming
the animal’s immune system.
▪ Most common in growing lambs/kids, age
1 to 6 months.
▪ Outbreaks are most common around time
of weaning (due to stress), but disease
outbreaks can occur at other times.
▪ Most common in intensively reared
(housed or grazed) lambs and kids.
▪ Adults are highly resistant to disease
(goats less).

7. There are two kinds of coccidiosis.
SUB-CLINICAL
▪ Low levels of infection cause
reduction of growth and feed
efficiency of lambs/kids.
▪ May not be any overt signs of
disease.
▪ Probably greatest economic
cost to sheep and goat
industry.
CLINICAL
▪ Immune system overwhelmed
by infection level.
▪ Clinical symptoms observed.
▪ Damage has been done.

8. How is coccidiosis diagnosed?
1. Clinical findings
2. Farm history
3. Microscopic evaluation
4. Post-mortem examination

9. Clinical signs of coccidiosis
▪ Diarrhea (not always)
▪ Dirty tails, hocks
▪ Lack of appetite
▪ Depression
▪ Weight loss
▪ Poor hair coat
▪ Thin, loss of body condition
▪ Straining and pain
▪ Dehydration
▪ Weakness
▪ Death
Consider differential diagnosis

10. Microscopic examination of feces
▪ “Large” number of oocysts in feces
may be indicative of clinical
coccidiosis.
▪ However . . .
– While some suggest values of 50,000-
100,000OPG, there is no clear threshold
for treatment.
– A low count does not rule out coccidiosis;
diarrhea may precede oocyst shedding.
– Oocyst count may be high without
clinical disease.
– Without speciation, a high oocyst count
may not be significant.

11. Post-mortem examination
Confirmation of diagnosis
▪ Most reliable indicator of
clinical coccidiosis
▪ White nodules on intestinal
mucosa
▪ Thickening of intestinal wall
▪ Blood in rumen

12. Prevention of coccidiosis
GOOD ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
▪ Hygienic conditions
▪ Good nutrition
▪ Reduce stress factors
ANTICOCCIDIALTHERAPY
▪ Feed
▪ Minerals
▪ Water
▪ Milk replacer
▪ Drench

13. Hygienic conditions
BARN
▪ Clean barn
before
birthing
▪ Dry, well-
bedded
pens
PASTURE
▪ Clean, well-rested
pastures
▪ Well-drained pastures
▪ Pasture rotation
▪ Avoid “hot spots” on
pasture
▪ Don’t let waterers
overflow
▪ No feeding on ground
▪ Minimize stocking
densities.
▪ Use feeders and waterers
that minimize fecal
contamination.
▪ Clean feeders and
waterers regularly.
▪ Tight birthing periods
▪ No mixing of different
aged animals
▪ Clean animals, especially
teats

14. Good nutrition
▪ Feed females to ensure sufficient
colostrum quantity and quality.
▪ Adequate consumption of colostrum by
newborns.
▪ Good quality diet to ensure good milk
production.
▪ Avoid mineral deficiencies.
▪ Creep feed, if milk production is a
limiting factor.
▪ Use good quality milk replacers for
artificially-reared lambs/kids.

15. Reduction of stress factors
▪ Optimize housing; keep stocking densities down.
▪ Make sure ventilation is adequate.
▪ Avoid drafts and temperature fluctuations.
▪ Provide shelter from inclement weather.
▪ Manage other diseases
▪ Minimal handling
▪ Low stress handling
▪ Low stress weaning

16. Anticoccidial therapies
Via feed, mineral, water, milk replacer, and/or drench
Tradename Drug Method Approval Use
Bovatec® Lasalocid Mix in feed or mineral Approved for confined sheep Preventative
Rumensin® Monensin Mix in feed or mineral Approved for confined goats Preventative
Deccox® Decoquinate Mix in feed or mineral Approved for young, non-
lactating sheep and goats
Preventative
Corid® Amprolium Put in drinking water or
administer as a drench
Not approved for sheep and
goats
Preventative
Treatment
Di-Methox®
Albon®,
Sulmet®
Sulfonamides Put in drinking water or
administer as a drench
Not approved for sheep and
goats; requires vet Rx
Preventative
Treatment
Marquis®
Ponazuril
Ponazuril Oral paste
Drench
Not approved for sheep and
goats; requires vet Rx
Preventative
Treatment
Toltrazuril® 5%
(Baycox®)
Toltrazuril Drench Available from
racehorsemeds.com
Preventative
Treatment

17. Anticoccidial therapies
▪ TIMING IS EVERYTHING!
▪ By the time clinical signs occur,
the damage has occurred.
▪ Coccidiostats need to be fed or
administered 3-4 weeks ahead of
expected onset of clinical signs.
▪ Consumption often limits effect of
coccidiostats put feed, mineral, or
water; drenches ensure intake.
▪ Opinions differ as to whether
pregnant ewes/does should be fed
a coccidiostat.

18. Treatment of coccidiosis
▪ No medications are FDA-
approved to treat coccidiosis in
sheep/goats; extra label drug
use (VCPR) is required.
▪ Amprolium (Corid®) is available
over-the-counter, but water
soluble sulfa antibiotics must
now be obtained from a
veterinarian (Rx).
▪ Consult with your veterinarian
for proper dosages and
withdrawal periods.
Drug Tradename
Sulfonamides
(sulfa antibiotics)
Di-Methox®
Sulmet®
Albon®
Amprolium Corid®
Lambs/kids with clinical disease should
be individually treated (drenched),
usually for 5 days. Sick animals won’t
likely drink enough water.

19. Supportive therapy for lambs/kids with
coccidiosis
▪ Fluid therapy
▪ Antidiarrheals
▪ Probiotics (yogurt)
▪ Nutritional support
▪ Low stress environment
▪ Palatable feed
Sometimes damage is permanent.

20. Natural control of coccidiosis
▪ Studies have shown that sericea
lespedeza (SL) pellets (condensed
tannins) can reduce oocyst counts
and symptoms in lambs/kids
▪ Researchers recommend that SL
be fed 1-2 weeks before weaning
and 3-4 weeks after weaning.
▪ Other potential natural
treatments include pine bark
(condensed tannins) and oregano
oil. Are there others?
Are some animals more resistant?

21. Thank your for attention. Question/comments?
SUSAN SCHOENIAN
Sheep & Goat Specialist
University of Maryland Extension
sschoen@umd.edu
www.wormx.info
www.sheepandgoat.com