ETIO-PATHOGENETICAL RESEARCHES IN COCCIDIOSIS OF THE LAMBS BRED IN BIG GROUPS, IN AN UNIT FROM THE WEST OF ROMANIA

Abstract

The diarrheic syndrome can be attributed to various causes: biotic agents (bacteria, parasites, fungi and viruses), alimentary, inobservance of the hygiene conditions, intervention of some maternal, genetic, immunity and human factors. An important place in producing this syndrome in l ambs devolves upon the Eimeria . In this study we had in view the qualitative estim ation of the value of the biotic agents which inter vene in the beginning of the diarrheic syndrome in lambs , from the neonatal period till to the age of 3 mon ths. Observations concerning the share of the coccidian infection in producing this syndrome in lambs were performed. Clinical exam were accomplished, specifying the incidence of the diarrheic syndrome, the lo sses by mortality in lambs, also anatomo-pathological exams by necropsy, histo-pathological exam (hematoxilin- eosine method). The coproscopical exam was done, using the Blagg modified byuteu, McMaster, sedimentation by centrifugation and Baermann methods. The coccidian species were determined by micrometry, according to the morphological features cited by various authors. Fo r determining the bacterial charge in faeces sample s from lambs, selective (Istrate-Maitert) and differentiat ion (MIU, TSI, MILF, citrate Simmons) mediums were used for enterobacteria, Chapmann medium for enterococc and agar with blood for the investigation of the hemoly tic capacity. The presence of Corona and Corona viruses were investigated by electrophoresis in poliacryla mide gel, respectively the hemagglutination assay with mouse red cells. As a result of the etio-pathogenetical and diagnost ic investigations performed, we came to the conclusions: the diarrheic syndrome evolved in the lambs aged from 4 weeks to 3 months, with an incidence of 26%. The mortality occurred in 16% of the sick lambs; the clinical aspects were represented by diarrhe a with aqueous yellow-chocolate colored feces, with abunda nt mucus, anomaly, then anorexia and dehydration; anatomo-pathologically, catharal enterocolitis, wit h punctiform hemorrhages, whitish foci on the intes tinal mucous membrane, hypertrophy of the mesenteric lymph nodes were observed. As a histopathologic result, the necrotic catharal enteritis, caused by coccidian ev olution forms, and mesenteric hyperplastic lymph ad enitis were observed. The diarrheic syndrome in lambs took place by the intervention of some unor multiple biotic agents: protozoa like Eimeria (extensivity 95%, intensivity 17500 EPG); Cryptosporidium (17.82%) and Giardia (22%); and the suprainfection with bacterial germs, unpath ogen, firstly E. coli (45%) and Proteus (65%). We didn't find Rota and Corona-viruses by the usual methods. The specific structure of the Eimeria population in the lambs with diarrheic syndrome is: E. ovinoidalis (42%); E. crandallis (28%); E. faurei (10%); E. parva (17%) and E. pallida (3%).