Coccidiosis

COCCIDIOSIS

Coccidiosis

  • Geese can get two distinct types of coccidiosis. The most prevalent form is renal coccidiosis caused by Eimeria truricata.
  • While intestinal coccidiosis is less prevalent, it is caused primarily by F_irneria anseris.
  • At least five additional species of Eifner-ia have been isolated from the intestine of the goose.
  • The level of infection and degree of economic loss associated with coccidiosis in the goose is generally low and it is not regarded as a major problem.

Symptoms

  • Renal coccidiosis can affect geese from 3-12 weeks of age, although the younger birds are much more susceptible. In an exceptional acute form, renal coccidiosis can result in mortality as high as 80 percent.
  • Other indicators of the disease include depression, weakness, diarrhoea, whiteish faeces, anorexia, dull, sunken eyes and drooped wings. Diagnosis of renal coccidiosis can be confirmed by locating the distinctive oocysts in the kidneys and in the cloaca near the urethras. Birds quickly develop immunity to re-infection by Eimeria truncata.
  • Intestinal coccidiosis also mostly affects young birds but does not always result in mortality. Rather, the infection produces anorexia, a tottering gait. debility, diarrhoea and morbidity.
  • The small intestine becomes enlarged and filled with reddish brown fluid. Lesions are primarily in the middle and lower portion of the small intestine.

Treatment

  • Various sulphonamide drugs and coccidiostats have been used in the treatment of renal and intestinal coccidiosis of geese. If the geese are to be fed rations which were formulated for other types of poultry, it should be noted that in spite of popular belief to the contrary, waterfowl can be fed rations containincy most of the coccidiostats used for chickens.
  • The Veterinary University of Hanover, Germany have specifically reported that the following coccidiostats found in chicken rations are tolerated by waterfowl: amprolium, amprolium¬ethopabate, clopidol, clopidol-methylbenzoquate, DOT (zoalene), lasalocid monensin-sodium, narasin, nicarbazin, robenidin, salinomycin and sulfaquinoxaline. They also reported that neither halofuginone nor arprinocid are tolerated by waterfowl and that they could find no information on the effect of giving waterfowl feed containing either decoquinate or maduramicin ammonium.
Last modified: Tuesday, 8 May 2012, 9:52 AM