Eimeria

Question 1

What can cause coccidiosis?

Answer 1

*Eimeria
*Isospora

Question 2

How does Eimeria spp spread?

Answer 2

*Faeco-oral

Question 3

What are the species of avian coccidiosis in chickens?

Answer 3

7 - can cause disease - if immune to one doesn’t mean immunity to all
*Eimeria tenella
*E. necatrix
*E. brunetti
*E. maxima
*E. acervulina
*E. mitis
*E. praecox

Question 4

What are the species of avian coccidiosis in turkeys?

Answer 4

*Eimeria meleangrimitis
*E. adenoides

Question 5

What is the life cycle of Eimeria?

Answer 5

Direct - faeco-oral
1. Unsporulated oocyst passed in faeces
2. Sporulation - temp dependent 1-2days
3. Infection due to ingestion + schizogony - asexual division
4. Gametogony - sexual division = macrogamete (female) + microgamete (male)

Question 6

Why are broilers more vulnerable to disease?

Answer 6

*Younger = naive, highly susceptible to exposure

Question 7

Why are free range birds more vulnerable to disease?

Answer 7

*More exposure from parasites in the soil + wild bird reservoir

Question 8

What is the infective stage of eimeria?

Answer 8

Sporulated oocyst - each have 4 sporocyst which have 2 sporozoites

Question 9

What size are eimeria oocysts?

Answer 9

*20-30um

Question 10

What occurs after infection of eimeria?

Answer 10

*Develop good immunity from natural infection

Question 11

How is Eimeria diagnosed?

Answer 11

*Clinical signs - diarrhoea +/- blood
*Post mortem - shizonts + merozoites
*Drop in FCR

Question 12

What is the pathogenesis of Eimeria?

Answer 12

*Severity depends on parasite density
*Damages epithelial cells
*Heavy infection = haemorrhage
*Lighter infections = impairs gut absorption = diarrhoea

Question 13

How is Eimeria infection controlled/ prevented?

Answer 13

*Coccidiostat
- decoquinate
-Narasin
*Hygiene
*Vaccination - Paracox

Question 14

How is Eimeria infection treated?

Answer 14

*Toltrazuril
*Diclazuril

Question 15

What is the difference between Eimeria + Isospora oocysts?

Answer 15

*Eimeria = 4 sporocysts - 2 sporozoites each
*Isospora = 2 sporocysts - 4 sporozoites each

Question 16

What age of chickens does Eimeria affect?

Answer 16

3-6weeks old

Question 17

What age of sheep does eimeria affect?

Answer 17

*2-3months

Question 18

What are the most pathogenic species of Eimeria in sheep?

Answer 18

*E. crandalis
*E. ovinoidalis

Question 19

What are the clinical signs of Eimeria in sheep?

Answer 19

*Diarrhoea
*Dehydration
*Abdominal pain
*Anorexia

Question 20

How is Eimeria diagnosed in sheep + cattle?

Answer 20

*History
*Clinical signs
*Oocyst in faeces

Question 21

What age of cattle does Eimeria affect?

Answer 21

*<1year old

Question 22

What are the 2 most pathogenic species of Eimeria in cattle?

Answer 22

*E. zuernii
*E. bovis

Question 23

What are clinical signs of Eimeria in cattle?

Answer 23

*Dysentery
*Diarrhoea
*Dehydration

Question 24

What can be used to treat coccidiosis in cattle?

Answer 24

*Sulphonamides
*Monesin
*decoquinate

Question 25

What causes coccidiosis in Pigs?

Answer 25

Isospora suis - high morbidity, low mortality

Question 26

How is coccidiosis on pigs diagnosed?

Answer 26

HARD
-Post mortem

Question 27

What does coccidiosis cause in Rabbits?

Answer 27

*Wasting
*Diarrhoea
*Jaundice

Question 28

How is coccidiosis in rabbits diagnosed?

Answer 28

*Post mortem
*Oocyst in faeces