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What is Coccidia?
Coccidia is a term for several species of faecally transmitted protozoan parasites that invade and damage the lining of the intestinal
wall.
1 2
Coccidia Species
Coccidia have species specific hosts. The species of Coccidia which infect birds are
not contagious to dogs
Coccidia Species
Four species of Coccidia are responsible for Coccidia infections in dogs
Isospora Canis Isospora Ohioensis
Isospora Neorivolta
Isospora Burrowsi
Coccidia LifecycleIMMATURE OOCYST
Immature Oocysts are a hardy
environmentally resistant form of the
Coccidia parasite.
Oocysts are excreted in faeces. They can lie
dormant in the environment for many months.
Oocyst need to mature before they are
infectious.
Coccidia Lifecycle
MATURE OOCYST
The oocyst matures in the environment. The
cells inside the oocyst divide and differentiate
many times.
Warm, moist conditions are optimal for
oocyst maturation. When an oocyst is mature 8
active sporozoites form within the oocyst. This
maturation process takes at least 8 hours
Coccidia Lifecycle
SPOROZOITE
Sporozoites are released when a mature
oocyst is ingested. Sporozoites invade,
replicate asexually & destroy the epithelial
cells of the small intestine and colon.
Coccidians are only able to undergo a fixed
number of cell-invasion and asexual
replication repetitions.
Coccidia Lifecycle
MACRO & MICRO GAMETES
Following the final asexual replication phase, the
sporozoites differentiate:
• into either a single, very large, female
macrogamete or
• subdivides itself into many, much smaller,
male microgametes.
Coccidia Lifecycle
MACRO & MICRO GAMETES
Microgametes are much like human
sperm cells and, once mature, they exit
their host cell and swim over to other
intestinal cells, hunting for mature
female macrogametes.
Coccidia Lifecycle
OOCYST FORMATION
The male microgamete enters the
intestinal cell holding the female
macrogamete and fertilizes it.
This sexual reproduction results in the
formation of a zygote.
Coccidia LifecycleOOCYST FORMATION
A rigid wall forms around the fertilised
zygote and, once this wall is firm enough to
withstand the harsh world outside of the
intestinal tract, it erupts from the intestinal
cell and gets shed into the faeces as an
oocyst.
Coccidia Lifecycle
From the time of ingestion of the mature
oocysts it takes 4-11 days for the first
oocysts to appear in the faeces
INCUBATION PERIOD
Coccidia Lifecycle
Oocyst matures before
ingested
Mature oocysts release eight active Sporozoites
Sporozoites invade the epithelial cells of the small intestine and
colon where they replicate asexually
Sporozoites differentiate into female macrogametes
and male microgametes
Gametes combine to form an immature oocyst which
is expelled in faeces
Transmission
Coccidia is transmitted when a dog ingests a mature oocyst. Oocysts are expelled in faeces. There are several
common transmission routes:
TransmissionFecal-oral
The most common transmission route is
through the direct ingestion of faeces or the ingestion of
food, water or vegetation that has been contaminated
byfaeces
TransmissionLicking
Dogs can ingest oocysts when they lick
anything that has been in contact with faeces
Dogs spread oocysts onto their fur through rolling in or lying on
ground soiled by faeces. They then lick their
bodies, ingesting the oocysts.
TransmissionTransport Hosts:
While Coccidia species only infect specific
hosts, it is possible for the canine specific
Isospora to be transmitted via
transport hosts such as rats, birds or
lizards…
Transport Hosts1. A transport host eats dog faeces or vegetation soiled
by dog faeces
2. Once ingested the Isospora oocyst hatches & migrates in the host body
3. Since Coccidia is species specific. The host is typically asymptomatic. The Coccida lies dormant within the transport host
4. If a dog eats this host, he/she will now have Coccidia in their system
Transmission:Many adult dogs are carriers of Coccidia
but show no symptoms of infection
…
Carriers do however expel oocysts in their faeces. These oocysts go on to infect other
dogs especially puppies.
Transmission:
The immune system of adult dogs keep
the Coccidia population under
control.
When under stress or if immuno-
compromised Coccidia carriers may develop symptoms
Carriers:
Coccidiosis
Coccidia invade the surface layer of cells lining the wall of the intestines.
Coccidia reproduce rapidly inside these cells causing them to burst & die. This
process, causes massive amounts of intestinal cell damage, resulting in
Coccidiosis
Coccidiosis
• Diarrhea: watery
stools, blood may be
present
• In severe cases,
weight loss,
dehydration, &
permanent damage
to the small intestine
• Vomitting may
occasionally be
observed
Symptoms4
Coccidiosis
In the upcoming slides a highly magnified
view of the damage caused by Coccidia
to the villi of the small intestine will be
shown…
CoccidiosisThese little matchstick
like projections are the
VILLI of the small
intestine.
The villi line the
surface of the small
intestine and are
responsible for the
absorption of nutrients
3
Coccidiosis
Puppy immune
systems are not yet
fully developed. As
such, Coccidiosis is
more common and
serious in puppies
CoccidiosisPuppies can suffer several
complications as a result
of Coccidia:
• severe dehydration,
• blood loss,
• secondary
bacterial/viral
infection
They may even DIE
without prompt & proper
therapy.
Diagnosis
A faecal exam is necessary to diagnose Coccidia.
Different faecal examination methods can be used.
It should be noted that oocysts are shed intermittently &
thus multiple faecal examinations may be necessary for
a conclusive result
Discuss the best diagnostic
methodology with your
Veterinarian!
Treatment
This information is purely educational &
does not const itute medical advice.
Before adopting ANY medical treatments
please consult with your Veter inar ian!
TreatmentMost antibiotics and anti-coccidial drugs
used in Coccidia therapy do not destroy all of the coccidial organisms.
Most of them simply kill enough of the organisms that they won't decimate the
bowel, thereby buying time for the immune system response to kick in and
establish a host-parasite balance and neutrality.
Treatment
It should be noted that both Vecoxan and Coximed are not registered for use in dogs. Therefore owners treat their dogs with these drugs at their
own risk.
Discuss the appropriate treatment with your Vet!
Diclazuril, trade name Vecoxan® and Coximed® has proven effective in treating Coccidiosis in
dogs
TreatmentSuggested Puppy treatment protocol for Breeders
Vecoxan® has a dosage of 2.5mg of Diclazuril/tablet whereas and Coximed® has
5mg/tablet
In my experience Coximed has proven far more effective and efficient in treating
Coccidiosis and is my preferred medication
Treatment
At 4 weeks puppies and dam to be treated with Diclazuril
Diclazuril to be repeated in 7 or 10 days depending on the severity of infection
Suggested Puppy treatment protocol for Breeders
Treatment
After 10 days a faecal flotation must be done,
If negative: Diclazuril treatment
to be repeated every 10 days until
puppies leave
If positive: Diclazuril treatment
to be repeated every 7 days until
puppies leave
Suggested Puppy treatment protocol for Breeders
TreatmentSuggested Puppy treatment protocol for Breeders
It is advisable to perform another faecal flotation approximately 3 days before puppies leave to their new homes
Moving to a new home is stressful for a puppy. This faecal floatation helps ensure that puppies are healthy and minimises
the risk of Coccidiosis as a result of stress
Prevention:While it is impossible to eliminate the risk of
Coccidia completely, measures can be taken
to help ensure the health & wellbeing of your
dogs
PreventionGood Sanitation & Hygiene!
Remove ALL faeces from the dog’s environment as soon and as often as possible. Isospora oocysts need at least 8 hours to mature and develop into an infective form. Significant control of the parasite can be achieved simply by cleaning out faeces regularly (two to three times daily), prior to the maturation of the oocysts.
PreventionGood Sanitation & Hygiene!
Clean water and food bowls
Dog food and water bowls should not be placed in a position where they can be unintentionally contaminated with fecal material.
Elevating bowls and placing bowls out of high traffic areas helps minimise the risk of contamination
PreventionGood Sanitation & Hygiene!
Thoroughly disinfect
Coccidia oocysts are extremely hardy and environmentally resistant. As such it is best to clean & disinfect your kennels and trailers with quaternary ammonia based disinfectants such as F10, at least once a week.
Prevention
Good Sanitation & Hygiene!
Keep dogs clean to prevent the risk of any fecal contamination via fur
Prevention
Suggested hygiene protocol for breeders
Bath her again immediately after whelping and then every second day
until the bleeding stops
Bath the dam 3 days before whelping with F10 Shampoo
Prevention
Whelping box must be disinfected
before and after whelping.
The whelping box should be throughly
cleaned and disinfected at regular
intervals post whelping
Suggested hygiene protocol for breeders
Prevention
Wash puppies regularly (every morning if
possible) before feeding with F10 shampoo,
especially the bums and paws
After feeding, clean puppy paws again in
case they stepped into their food bowl
Suggested hygiene protocol for breeders
Prevention
Diet & Holistic Health
Ensure your dog has a well balanced diet, which is high in fibre. This will help to ensure healthy digestion & prevent Coccidia infection. Good overall health will also ensure that a dog’s own immune system can fight parasitic threats
Prevention
Raw meat
While the risk is low it is possible for dogs to contract Coccidia through the consumption of raw meat (Remember Coccidia can be transmitted by transport hosts). Be cautious and vigilant if feeding dogs a raw diet.
Bibliography1. E. Ward, DVM, Coccidia, viewed 10 November 2011,
http://mypuppycare101.com/members/puppy-health/worms-and-intestinal-parasites/coccidia/
2. Pet Wellbeing.com, Dog Coccidia, viewed 10 November 2011, http://pethealth.petwellbeing.com/wiki/Dog_Coccidia
3. Science Photo library, Small intestine microvilli, SEM, viewed 10 November 2011, http://www.sciencephoto.com/media/310018/view
4. S. O’Meara DVM, Veterinary Advice Online - Coccidia Infection. Coccidiosis in dogs, cats and other animals., viewed 10 November 2011, http://www.pet-informed-veterinary-advice-online.com/coccidiosis-in-dogs.html
5. H.C. Mundt, No olvide la coccidiosis, BayerVet Venezuela, viewed 10 November 2011, http://www.bayervet.net/vz_008_02.html
6. H.C. Mundt, No olvide la coccidiosis, BayerVet Venezuela, viewed 10 November 2011, http://www.bayervet.net/vz_008_02.html
7. H.C. Mundt, No olvide la coccidiosis, BayerVet Venezuela, viewed 10 November 2011, http://www.bayervet.net/vz_008_02.html
Many thanks to Emeritus Professor: Department of Veterinary Tropical
diseases Joop Boomker for graciously sharing his wealth of knowledge
Compiled by: Karishma Bhoolia
in consultation with the Parasitological Society of Southern Africa
And
Emeritus Professor Department of Veterinary Tropical diseases Joop Boomker
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