Philippine E-Journals

Prevalence And Factors Associated With Eimeria Infection In Goats In Laguna, Philippines

Mildred A. Padilla | Waren N. Baticados | Jeramy M. Desamero | Samuel F. Lucas

Discipline: Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture

 

Abstract:

The study was conducted to determine the prevalence, intensity and species of Eimeria and examine some factors associated with infection in goats in Laguna. Rectal feces were collected from 173 goats in 18 farms and examined for oocysts by salt flotation method and then counted by modified McMaster technique. Fecal samples that were positive for Eimeria oocysts were sporulated at room temperature using 2.5% potassium dichromate. Fifteen of 18 farms surveyed (herd prevalence, 83.3%) and 108 of 173 goats (animal prevalence, 62.4%) examined were positive for E. arloingi, E. crandallis and E. granulosa oocysts. Majority of goats were infected individually with two to three Eimeria species. The prevalence of Eimeria in the study population was 71.8%. Prevalence and intensity of Eimeria infection significantly declined with age. Significantly high prevalence of 76.2% and a mean fecal oocyst count of 1325±1638.7 per gram of feces were recorded in <1 year-old age group. Age (<1 year-old age group) and the presence of diarrhea were associated with increased risk of coccidia infection. Only 18.2% of the variability of fecal OPG could be explained by age. The results show that Eimeria was common in the goats sampled, particularly in the <1 year-old age group and that the presence of diarrhea in the same age group indicated the presence of coccidiosis in the herd. This is the first report of the presence of two pathogenic species, namely E. arloingi and E. crandallis, in goats from Laguna. The presence of E. arloingi and E. crandallis in diarrheic goats supports the role of these parasites in clinical coccidiosis.