PREVALENCE AND DETERMINANTS OF CALF COCCIDIOSIS AT SYLHET DISTRICT OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

This study was conducted in twelve Upazilas of Sylhet district to determine the prevalence, species characterization and associated risk factors for both overall and species specific infection of coccidia in calves. In this study, faecal samples were collected randomly from a total of 554 calves with the age of 1 month to 2 years old during a period of nine months (August 2014 to April 2015). Out of 554 calves, 308 (55.60%) were found to be positive for seven species of Eimeria. Among the identified species of Eimeria, Eimeria bovis (38.98%), Eimeria zuernii (26.17%), Eimeria alabamensis (22.38%) was found to be the most prevalent species followed in order by Eimeria auburnensis (5.95%), Eimeria subspherica (2.34%), Eimeria cylindrica (2.16%) and Eimeria ellipsoidalis (1.62%) respectively. Age, gender, body condition and deworming had a significant influence on the prevalence of overall Eimeria infection in calves. Younger calves had significantly higher prevalence (p<0.05) of Eimeria than older calves while higher prevalence of Eimeria was observed in female calves. Coccidiosis was more prevalent in poor body condition and non-dewormed calves (p<0.05) as compared to good and medium body condition and regular dewormed calves, respectively. Breed, area, grazing with other herd and watering system of calves were not found risk factors (p>0.05) influencing prevalence of calf coccidiosis. From the species specific risk factors study of most prevalent Eimeria, age and deworming was found as a significant influence in E. bovis and E. alabamensis infection in calves but only gender had a significant influence in E. bovis infection in calves, followed by herd and hygienic condition had a significant influence in E. zuernii infection in calves.