Parasitological and clinical parameters of experimental Eimeria zuernii infection in calves and influence on weight gain and haemogram

Infection trials were performed to characterize experimental Eimeria zuernii coccidiosis parasitologically and clinically and to investigate the effects on weight gain and haemotologic parameters in affected calves. Three groups of calves were formed: Group 1 (n = 14) served as uninfected control gr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Parasitology research (1987) 2007-05, Vol.100 (6), p.1331-1340
Main Authors: Bangoura, B, Daugschies, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Blood Cells - parasitology
Cattle
Cattle Diseases - blood
Cattle Diseases - parasitology
Coccidiosis - parasitology
Coccidiosis - veterinary
Eimeria
Eimeria zuernii
Feces - parasitology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
General aspects and techniques. Study of several systematic groups. Models
Hematocrit - veterinary
Invertebrates
Time Factors
Weight Gain
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Summary:Infection trials were performed to characterize experimental Eimeria zuernii coccidiosis parasitologically and clinically and to investigate the effects on weight gain and haemotologic parameters in affected calves. Three groups of calves were formed: Group 1 (n = 14) served as uninfected control group, group 2 (n = 11) was infected with 150,000 sporulated E. zuernii oocysts per calf, and group 3 (n = 16) was infected with 250,000 sporulated E. zuernii oocysts per calf. All infected animals shed oocysts and showed diarrhoea; a positive correlation could be shown between quantified oocyst excretion and faecal consistency. Measurements throughout the prepatent and the patent period revealed a marked influence of E. zuernii infection on weight gain, leukocyte concentration, haemoglobin, haematocrit, and mean cellular volume. Aberrations in these parameters were most pronounced in the highly infected group. The results of this study confirm that acute sublethal E. zuernii coccidiosis causes distinct loss of fluid and blood via intestine. This dominates also the haematological picture of the disease, which is mainly characterized by haemoconcentration. Leukocyte concentration was depressed during the early patent period, whereas it increased markedly from day 24 after infection on.
ISSN:0932-0113
1432-1955
DOI:10.1007/s00436-006-0415-5