Outbreak of eimeriosis and giardiasis associated to mortality of lambs in southern Brazil

Abstract

This study aimed to report an infection by protozoa of the genus Eimeria and Giardia in lambs, causing mortality. A flock of 27 lambs from a small farm in the municipality of Itaara, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, had severe diarrhea, and five animals died 7 days after the onset of the clinical signs, showing apathy, weakness, weight loss, dehydration, and diarrhea. Stool samples were collected and then processed by the method of zinc sulfate centrifugation to investigate the presence of parasites. Massive infection by cysts of Giardia duodenalis and oocysts of Eimeria spp. was observed. After the diagnosis, the lambs were treated with albendazole and sulphaquinoxaline, and at 3 days posttreatment (PT), they showed clinical improvement, especially in the reduction of diarrhea. At 10 days PT, cysts of Giardia were rare; however, the oocysts of Eimeria were not displayed. Giardiasis is a parasitic disease that occurs rarely in sheep; though associated with eimeriosis, it can lead to mortality of lambs. Therefore, the protozoan G. duodenalis may be an opportunistic parasite, as reported in this study.