Coccidiosis of small ruminants in Tanzania
Abstract
A study was conducted to determine the prevalence and types of coccidia species in slaughter goats and sheep in Tanzania. A total of 91% of goats and 93% of sheep were infected with coccidia. The mean coccidia oocyst counts were 3200 g -1 faeces (range 100–46000) in goats and 2900 g-1 faeces (range 100–11400) in sheep. Eimeria species found in goats were Eimeria alijevi (63%). Eimeria arloingi (55%), Eimeria caprina (26%), Eimeria ninakohlyakimouae (26%), Eimeria caprovina (16%), Eimeria hirci (5%), Eimeria jolchijeui (5%) and Eimeria christenseni (3%). Eimeria crandallis (96%), Eimeria parva (92%), Eimeria ovinoidalis (29%), Eimeria bakuensis (29%), Eimeria faurei (29%), Eimeria ahsata (21%) and Eimeria granulosa (8%) infected the sheep. This is the first report on coccidia infecting goats in Tanzania. The presence of pathogenic species of Eimeria in goats (Eimeria alijevi, E. arloingi, E. ninakohlyakimovae and E. christenseni) and in sheep (E. ovinoidalis and E. ahsata) suggests that coccidiosis may be contributing to the enteric syndromes affecting small ruminants in the country.
Citation
Kusiluka, L.J.M.; Kambarage, D.M.; Matthewman, R.W.; Harrison, L.J.S.; Daborn, C.J. . Coccidiosis of small ruminants in Tanzania. Small Ruminant Research (1996) 21 (2) 127-131. [DOI: 10.1016/0921-4488(96)00860-7]