Coccidiosis in goats: Pathological observations on intestinal developmental stages and anticoccidial efficacy of amprolim

In an outbreak of coccidiosis at a goat farm having 200 animals of different age groups (0-3 months, 4-6 months and 7-9 months), kept under stall fed conditions, mortality of 2 kids aged 2-3 months in a span of 2-3 days was seen. The kids were having a history of severe diarrhoea, anorexia and general weakness. Standard qualitative and quantitative coprological examination of randomly collected faecal samples from 60 goats of different age groups revealed that 58 (96.66%) were infected with coccidian oocysts. Among positive samples, 25(43.10%) were heavily infected (OPG=5000-1,23,000), 22(37.93%) had a moderate (OPG=1000-5000) and 11(18.96%) had a mild (OPG=100-1000) infection. Significant difference (P<0.05) observed in the mean OPG between the 3 age categories with highest infection in kids with the age group of less than or equal to 3 months,followed by 4-6 months and 7-9 months. Mixed infection of five Eimeria species, namely E. arloingi, E. ninakohlyakimovae, E. christenseni, E. hirci and E. alijevi was seen and E. arloingi was most predominant species among them. Systematic necropsies of naturally died kids of coccidial infection revealed small whitish non-pedunculated nodules in the small intestine. Histopathologically, these nodules revealed papillary hyperplasia of the mucosal epithelium with mild to moderate inflammatory reaction with the presence of developmental stages of Eimeria including trophozoites, schizonts, microgamonts, macrogamonts and oocysts in the epithelium of affected intestinal villi and crypts. The affected animals were successfully treated with amprolium @ dose rate of 2g/40kg body weight.  Significant reduction in the oocysts count (P< 0.01) 7 days post treatment 610.52±201.17 was seen compared to pre treatment values (10685.96±3128.22).