Prepared for Delmarva Small Ruminant Conference: All Worms All Day -- by Dr. Niki Whitley. Delaware State University, Dover, Delaware, December 9, 2017.

1. Coccidiosis
Dr. Niki Whitley
Fort Valley State University
Cooperative Extension
whitleyn@fvsu.edu; 478-825-6577

2. • Protozoa, single celled organism
• Mostly the genus Eimeria in sheep and goats
• Can survive in environment for year or more in
right conditions (i.e. warm/hot; moist)
Parasite, Not a Worm
www.britannica.com/science/coccidiumwww.nadis.org.uk/bulletins/coccidosis-in-lambs.aspx

3. https://www.uoguelph.ca/~pmenzies/PDF/Handbook/Handbook_Coccidia_2012.pdf
• Many species, not all cause disease
• Species-specific (at least 10 each sheep/goats)
• Immunity to cocci occurs with age/exposure
• Pre-patent period (time from ingestion to
passing eggs in feces; i.e. life cycle)

4. http://www.revmedvet.com/2017/RMV168_9_20.pdf
Life cycle 10-20 days
• Fecal oocyst
develop (asexual)
• Infection (2/3)
• Spread
• Asexual
reproduction
• Sexual
reproduction

5. Life cycle One oocyst can
destroy millions
of cells (50
million+)
Resistant to
many common
disinfectants
(10% ammonia);
sunlight
Life cycle self-
limiting if no
reinfection
Oocyst infectious in 2 -7 days, temperature and humidity dependent

6. • Diarrhea (sometimes
containing blood or
mucus)/straining
(prolapse?)
• Stomach pain
• Weakness
• Dehydration
• Off feed/reduced intake/FE
• Weight loss/poor growth
(subclinical too)
• Anemia
• Wool breaking/rough hair
coat
• Death
Symptoms

7. • Young animals under stress are most likely to
get it – i.e. weaning, disease, transport,
nutritional and other stresses
• Avoid mixing young/old animals or following
young with older animals in pens/pastures
Prevention
• Keep lambing/kidding areas
clean with fresh bedding
• Clean well between groups
of young animals in
pens/paddocks

8. • Avoid over-crowding
animals in pens, pastures or
shelters
• Keep housing, pens,
feeders and water sources
clean
• Pay attention to pasture
areas where animals
congregate, especially if
moist areas without direct
sunlight
Prevention

9. • Avoid feeding on the ground – feed in
elevated feeders (or outside pen)
• Avoid bringing it in on shoes (pets or pests)
• Quarantine new animals
Prevention

10. • Weaning tips:
• Creep feed or adjust feeding
schedules before weaning
• Keep offspring in same
groups
• Remove females from
offspring (so offspring have
same housing)
• Low stress handling
• Fenceline weaning? (Dave
Scott on-farm research)
• Coccidiostats? Preventative
treatments?
Prevention

11. • Commercial feeds (or milk replacer) “medicated” with
coccidiostats (do not help if infected) or can get it
mixed as per label directions (peri-parturient females;
weaning time; non-lactating dairy goats):
• Decoquinate (Deccox®) – goats (0.5mg/kg); add 2 lb
(of 6% Deccox®) to 50 lb trace mineralized salt;
lambs: 2.5lb/ton creep feed; 2lb/ton grower, 1.5lb/ton
finisher; goats: U.S. 0.5 lb of 6% premix/ton; UK
3.67/lb of premix/ton (no bentonite in feed)
• Monensin (Rumensin®) – 15g/ton feed sheep; 18-
20g/ton goats (15-30 mg/head/day)
• Lasalocid (Bovatec®) (sheep only) - 30g/ton feed
Prevention
A valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship is required
for all extra-label drug use!

12. • Merck Vet Manual (sheep/other countries):
• Diclazuril (Vecoxan®) - 1 mg/kg oral
preventative (once 6–8 wk old/just before
weaning or twice at 3-4 wk old & 3 wk later)
• Single dose toltrazuril* (Baycox®) at 20 mg/kg
– treatment reduces oocysts for 3 wk
• Sulfaquinoxaline 0.015% concentration in
drinking water at for 3–5 days for lambs (VFD)
Prevention/Treatment
*Research indicates toltrazuril
may be more effective than
diclazuril (which may require a
treatment 3 weeks later)

13. • Amprolium (Corid® or Amprol®) -
• 9.6% oral solution (1.5 oz/100 gallons water)
for 21 days
• Drench 1 oz/day/animal (1.5 oz/1 pint water) for
21 days
• Treatment: 10mg/lb for 5 days (1 day meat w/d)
of 9.6% or 20% drench
Treatment/Prevention
A valid veterinarian-client-
patient relationship is required
for all extra-label drug use!

14. Treatment/Prevention
• Sulfa drugs (work with your vet)-
• 12.5% Sulfamethazine (i.e. Sulmet®), oral
drench: 50 lb lamb: 1.5oz first day, 0.75oz next 2
days (25 mg/lb first day, 12.5 mg/lb next 2 days)
• Sulfamethazine bolus (i.e. Sustain III®), calf bolus
1 per 50lb
• 12.5% Sulfadimethoxine (i.e. Albon®, Di-
methox®), oral drench: 25 mg/lb first day, half that
next 2-4 days (i.e. per 50 lb: 10cc first day, 5cc
next days)

15. • More recent research:
• Ponazuril (Marquis®) at 10 mg/kg
once by mouth before weaning
(prevent) or as a treatment
• Natural control:
• Sericea lespedeza (forage) has
been shown to reduce cocci
oocyst counts (goats and sheep)
• Oregano essential oils (i.e.
OregoStim®) have been shown to
reduce oocyst counts in poultry;
500 ppm (similar to diclazuril)
Treatment/Prevention

16. • Isolate for control and ease of
treatment/therapy
• In bottle kids, feed milk in small amounts only
• Anemia: Iron, B12, Vitamin K, (Red Cell®)
• Nutrient support
• Electrolytes (human drinks OK)
• Broad spectrum antibiotics in case of bacterial
infections (sulfa drugs do this)
• Severe anemia-blood transfusion
Supportive Therapy

17. Questions?