Coccidiosis and cryptosporidiosis in sheep and goats. 1990

W J Foreyt
Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Pullman.

The protozoan diseases, coccidiosis and cryptosporidiosis, are important enteric diseases of sheep and goats, resulting in diarrhea, inefficient weight gains, and occasionally death. Coccidiosis is a widespread, serious economic disease affecting animals who are preweaned, recently weaned, or in unsanitary, stressful, or crowded conditions, as well as after entering feedlots. The Eimeria species in sheep and goats are relatively host specific. Control is accomplished through sanitation and by incorporating one of the modern coccidiostats, such as lasalocid or decoquinate, in feed or salt to ensure an intake of approximately 1 mg of drug per kg of body weight per day for at least 30 consecutive days. Prevention and control of coccidiosis results in significantly greater weight gains and production, whereas disease with or without treatment is likely to result in inefficient production and economic loss to the producer. Cryptosporidiosis, caused by Cryptosporidium parvum, is primarily a disease of lambs and kids less than 30 days of age and is usually a milder disease than coccidiosis. Infective oocysts are passed in feces and are transmitted by oral ingestion. Oocysts readily infect a variety of animals, including humans. Cryptosporidiosis is a prevalent disease in neonatal ruminants and in humans. Effective treatments are not available, but because the disease is usually mild and self-limited, supportive care, primarily hydration, is important. Control is strict sanitation and quarantine of sick animals. Disinfection of contaminated housing with ammonia or formalin will kill the oocysts. The cyst-forming coccidia diseases, toxoplasmosis and sarcocystosis, utilize two hosts in their life cycles: sheep or goats and carnivores. Abortions and reproductive failures are major manifestations of disease. Control is through elimination of carnivore feces from the premises through management.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D003048 Coccidiosis Protozoan infection found in animals and man. It is caused by several different genera of COCCIDIA. Besnoitiasis,Besnoitiosis,Besnoitiases,Besnoitioses,Coccidioses
D003457 Cryptosporidiosis Intestinal infection with organisms of the genus CRYPTOSPORIDIUM. It occurs in both animals and humans. Symptoms include severe DIARRHEA. Cryptosporidium Infection,Cryptosporidioses,Cryptosporidium Infections,Infection, Cryptosporidium
D006041 Goats Any of numerous agile, hollow-horned RUMINANTS of the genus Capra, in the family Bovidae, closely related to the SHEEP. Capra,Capras,Goat
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012756 Sheep Any of the ruminant mammals with curved horns in the genus Ovis, family Bovidae. They possess lachrymal grooves and interdigital glands, which are absent in GOATS. Ovis,Sheep, Dall,Dall Sheep,Ovis dalli
D012757 Sheep Diseases Diseases of domestic and mountain sheep of the genus Ovis. Ovine Diseases,Disease, Ovine,Disease, Sheep,Diseases, Ovine,Diseases, Sheep,Ovine Disease,Sheep Disease
D015511 Goat Diseases Diseases of the domestic or wild goat of the genus Capra. Caprine Diseases,Caprine Disease,Disease, Caprine,Disease, Goat,Diseases, Caprine,Diseases, Goat,Goat Disease

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