| dc.description.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. | en_US |
