Eimeria Species Infection in Surti Goat Kids

Caprine coccidiosis, protozoan disease caused by Eimeria species, is major parasitic diseases characterized by contagious enteritis. Severity of Eimeria spp. infection is more in young animals. Two goat kids aged below one year died with history of mucoid to haemorrhagic yellow watery diarrhea, anorexia, emaciation, poor growth and death. At necropsy, gross lesions in intestines revealed diffuse small whitish non-pedunculated nodules of 5mm to 8mm diameter size in mucosa with focal petechial hemorrhages. Microscopic examination of intestinal content revealed numerous Eimeria spp. sporulated and unsporulated oocysts. In histopathological examination of intestines, enteritis was observed with denuded glandular epithelial cells, focal hyperplasia of intestinal villi and goblet cells, mild to moderate infiltration of inflammatory cells and haemorrhage. Various developmental stages of Eimeria spp. were also discernible in intestinal epithelial cells. Hence, caprine coccidiosis was diagnosed as the cause of death in kids.