Coccidiosis in goats in the Czech Republic

An observational study was conducted to determine coccidial infections in goats of 13 farms in the Czech Republic. The prevalence of oocysts of Eimeria species in kids (less than 3 months old), weaned but not served goats (from 3 months to 1 year), and adult goats (1 year or more) was determined. Nine Eimeria species were identified in fecal samples by Sheather's sugar flotation technique. The overall prevalence of Eimeria oocysts in fecal specimens was 92.2%. Eimeria arloingi was the most common species with an overall prevalence of 84%, followed by E. hirci (63%) and E. ninakohlyakimovae (56%). Other species present were E. christenseni (55%), E. alijevi (36%), E. caprina (25%), E. aspheronica (12%), E. capriovina (6%) and E. jolchijevi (2%). Two or more Eimeria species were detected in 88% of the samples. The most prevalent species in kids was E. arloingi, while in weaned but not served and adult goats E. ninakohlyakimovae was the most frequently found. The number of oocysts excreted was generally lower in adult goats (2567.3+/-12678 OPG), whereas higher number oocyst per gram of feces (OPG) were found in kids (18565+/-24888 OPG). Clinical coccidiosis was detected in two farms, and E. arloingi and E. ninakohlyakimovae were implicated as its cause. Disease was observed in kids 2 to 4 weeks after weaning and watery feces with clumps of mucus, and color changes from brown to yellow or dark tarry, weight loss, and dehydration were the most conspicuous clinical signs. At necropsy, macroscopic changes included mucosal hemorrhages and whitish nodular polyps in the jejunum were found. Histopathological changes were characterized by local hypertrophy and hyperplasia of intestinal villi, villus blunting and inflammatory infiltration in the lamina propria. Numerous developmental stages of the parasites were observed in enterocytes and lacteals of intestinal villi.