Prevalence and risk factors of Eimeria spp. natural infection in sheep from northern Paraná, Brazil.

Priscilla Gomes Carneiro,Fernando De Souza Rodrigues,Aline Ticiani Pereira Paschoal,Mércia De Seixas,Ana Clécia Dos Santos Silva,João Pedro Sasse,Ana Flávia Minutti,Sérgio Tosi Cardim,Thais Agostinho Martins,João Luis Garcia,Luiz Daniel De Barros

doi:10.1590/s1984-29612022004

Priscilla Gomes Carneiro, Fernando De Souza Rodrigues + Show 9 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1984-29612022004

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Abstract

The present study aimed to perform an epidemiological and morphological identification of Eimeria infection in sheep in Brazil. Fecal samples from sheep were collected from 20 farms in northern Paraná, Brazil. An epidemiological questionnaire was used to evaluate the risk factors. Fecal samples containing oocysts per gram of feces (OoPG) ≥1000 were subjected to the modified Willis-Mollay method to perform oocyst identification. Sporulated oocysts were observed microscopically for morphological identification. A total of 807 fecal samples were collected. Based on the morphological characteristics of the sporulated oocysts, 10 species of Eimeria were identified, with main species observed: Eimeira ovinoidalis (98.1%), Eimeria crandallis (87.6%), Eimeria parva (79.1%), and Eimeria bakuensis (60.8%). Only 2.6% (7/268) of the sheep were infected with a single species, 4.8% (13/268) contained two different species, and 92.5% (248/268) were infected with three or more species. The analysis of risk factors showed that an intensive rearing, no rotation of pasture, dirt, and slatted floors, and age up to 12 months were associated with infection. This study showed a high prevalence of Eimeria natural infection in sheep from northern Paraná, Brazil. Furthermore, based on the risk factors, good management and hygiene practices must be employed to avoid infection.

Highlights

Coccidiosis is an intestinal disease caused by obligate intracellular protozoans of the genus Eimeria that infects different animal species, including birds, ruminants, and rabbits (Bruhn et al, 2011; Cardim et al, 2018; Mohamaden et al, 2018; Basiaga et al, 2020)
E. crandallis, E. bakuensis, E. parva, and E. ahsata are the main pathogenic species; mixed infections are more common in naturally infected animals (Arslan et al, 1999; Keeton & Navarre, 2018)
Morphological studies have shown that the distribution of Eimeria species have regional variations, and that E. crandallis and E. ovinoidalis are the main species affecting sheep in Brazil (Lopes et al, 2013; Souza et al, 2015)

Summary

Introduction

Coccidiosis is an intestinal disease caused by obligate intracellular protozoans of the genus Eimeria that infects different animal species, including birds, ruminants, and rabbits (Bruhn et al, 2011; Cardim et al, 2018; Mohamaden et al, 2018; Basiaga et al, 2020). The infection causes high economic impact due to clinical and subclinical disease, which results in decreased productivity and low growth of infected animals (Chartier & Paraud, 2012). Farmers usually underestimate subclinical coccidiosis; low productivity accounts for more economic losses than mortality, which rarely exceeds 10% of the infected herd (Silva et al, 2007; Chartier & Paraud, 2012). E. crandallis, E. bakuensis, E. parva, and E. ahsata are the main pathogenic species; mixed infections are more common in naturally infected animals (Arslan et al, 1999; Keeton & Navarre, 2018). Morphological studies have shown that the distribution of Eimeria species have regional variations, and that E. crandallis and E. ovinoidalis are the main species affecting sheep in Brazil (Lopes et al, 2013; Souza et al, 2015)

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