© The Author(s). 2023 Open Access This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International License. SHORT COMMUNICATION dung smearing on the perineum and tail. Clinical examination of the calves indicated dehydration, rough skin, sunken eyeballs, elevated pulse rate (103-104°F), normal respiratory rate (28-30/min), high temperature (103-104°F) and increased pulse rate (100-105/min). Samples of faeces were taken right from the rectum of the infected calves and preserved in clearly labelled plastic vials. Using the direct flotation technique and a saturated salt and sucrose solution, three grams of faecal samples were screened (Pyziel and Demiaszkiewicz, 2013). The modified McMaster technique was used to quantify positive samples and determine the oocysts per gram (OPG) of faeces (MAFF, 1986). Samples that were not examined on the same day were preserved in 2.5% potassium dichromate solution and kept refrigerated (4°C) for examination the following day. Sporulation of the oocyst was accomplished by combining I NTRODUCTION O ne of the most pathogenic intestinal diseases is coccidiosis caused by many Eimeria species that are members of the Phylum-Apicomplexa (Lopez-Osorio et al., 2020). Coccidiosis is typically observed in India in the late summer and the winter, but it can happen at any time of the year. Mature animals frequently act as sources of infection for more vulnerable juvenile animals since they are typically asymptomatic carriers (Bangoura et al., 2012; Abebe et al., 2008). In calves, anorexia, weight loss, diarrhoea, emaciation, and occasionally death are symptoms of the infection that cause abrupt invasion and destruction of the intestinal mucosa (Coetzer and Tustin, 2004). According to Nalbantoglu et al. (2008), they cause significant financial losses to the cattle industry through the mortality and morbidity of young calves. Overcrowding and a lack of sanitation raise the possibility of a high infection rate. Eimeria spp. in buffaloes has been reported as common, in various states of India such as Uttar Pradesh (Singh and Agrawal, 2003), Punjab (Jyoti et al., 2012), Haryana (Nain et al., 2017), Rajasthan (Sodha et al., 2021), Assam (Das et al ., 2021) but from the hilly region of Meghalaya, no report on prevalence of coccidiosis in buffaloes was available. Therefore in this study, the prevalence of Eimeria spp. in Murrah buffalo calves from Meghalaya’s hilly region is reported. M ATERIALS AND M ETHODS Eight Murrah buffalo calves of 11-22 days of age from Dairy Farm, ICAR Research Complex NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya displayed signs of malnutrition, diarrhoea, and 1 ICAR Research Complex of North Eastern Hill Region, Umiam, Meghalaya-793 103, India 2 ICAR Research Complex of Eastern Region, Patna, Bihar 800 014, India Corresponding Author: Meena Das; ICAR Research Complex of North Eastern Hill Region, Umiam, Meghalaya-793 103, India, E-mail: meenad3@gmail.com How to cite this article: Das, M., Kumar, R., & Katiyar, R. (2023). Coccidiosis in Murrah Buffalo Calves from Meghalaya’s Subtropical Hilly Region. Ind J Vet Sci and Biotech. 19(5), 111-113. Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: The authors declares that there is no conflict of interest. Submitted: 21/06/2023 Accepted: 20/07/2023 Published: 10/09/2023 Coccidiosis in Murrah Buffalo Calves from Meghalaya’s Subtropical Hilly Region Meena Das 1 *, Rakesh Kumar 2 , Rahul Katiyar 1 A BSTRACT The present study reports the prevalence of coccidiosis in Murrah buffalo calves (8 nos.) of 11-22 days of age in hilly region of Meghalaya. Clinical signs observed were diarrhea, anorexia, weakness and loss of weight. Fecal sample examination by flotation and modified McMaster techniques revealed the presence of four species of Eimeria, viz., E. bareillyi (29.42%), E. zuernii (22.76%), E. bovis (36.53%) and E. ellipsoidalis (11.29%). High intensity of infection oocyst per gram (OPG) of feces was observed in infected calves. The OPG ranged from 20200 to 121000. Mortality was observed in one calf when OPG exceeded 121000 which may be due to severe diarrhea, anorexia and weakness. The calves were successfully treated with Amprolium @ 10 mg per kg body weight orally for 7 days, Ceftriaxone @ 0.5 gm I/M for 5 days, Melonex @ 1.5 mL I/M for 5 days, Tribivet @ 1.5 mL I/M along with vimeral @ 10 mL orally for 3 days and fluid therapy @ 500 mL intravenously daily for 3 days. After 7 days of treatment most of the calves recovered gradually and started normal feeding. Key words: Buffalo, Calves, Coccidiosis, Hilly region, Meghalaya Ind J Vet Sci and Biotech (2023): 10.48165/ijvsbt.19.5.24