Acta Protozool. (2002) 41: 353 - 357 The Frequency of Eimeriidae Species in the Domestic Geese in Kars Province of Turkey Mükremin Özkan ARSLAN 1 , Yunus GICIK 1 and Kadir ÖZCAN 2 1 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 2 Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Univer- sity of Kafkas, Kars, Turkey Summary. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of coccidia species in the domestic geese ( Anser anser domesticus) in Kars province, Turkey. The study involved 400 randomly selected geese of different age and localities. The faecal samples were collected between May and October, 2001 from the cloaca of individual animals. The samples were examined by using saturated salty water flotation technique. OPG (oocysts per gram of faeces) counts in faecal samples containing oocysts were calculated by modified McMaster technique. The sporulation of coccidia oocysts was done in potassium dichromate solution at 27 o C. Coccidian oocysts were detected in 80.8% of the samples and seven different species of Eimeriidae were identified. The species identified in this study were Tyzzeria parvula (81.7%), Eimeria anseris (11.2%), E. fulva (16.7%), E. hermani (13.3%), E. nocens (2.8%), E. stigmosa (31.6%), and E. truncata (37.8%). The OPG counts in infected geese ranged from 100 to 144 000. The rate of mixed infections was 64.4% and that of pure infection was 35.6%. The rate of mixed infections caused by two different coccidia species was 43%. During this study, necropsies were performed on 32 goslings that died of clinical diarrhea. Endogenous developing forms (meronts, gamonts) of coccidia species were seen in the intestine of 21 (65.6%) geese. Of these, 5 (5/21) had characteristic lesions of intestinal coccidiosis. Examination of kidneys revealed endogenous developing forms of E. truncata in the tubulus of 4 goslings (4/21). Key words: Eimeriidae, geese, Kars, Turkey. Abbreviations: OPG - oocysts per gram of faeces. INTRODUCTION Coccidiosis is an important protozoan disease of domestic animals. The disease is manifested by severe symptoms such as diarrhea, dehydration, and deaths in young animals (Mimioðlu et al. 1969, Levine 1985). Although coccidiosis has frequently been reported in the domestic geese, information on its clinical charac- teristics and economic importance is limited (Soulsby 1986). Two types of coccidiosis, intestinal and renal coccidiosis, are described in geese. Renal coccidiosis caused by Eimeria truncata (Railliet and Lucet, 1891) Wasielewski, 1904 is widespread throughout the world. It is commonly reported in goslings between 3 weeks to 3 months old and causes high morbidity and mortality (Mimioðlu et al. 1969, Gajadhar et al. 1983a), which reaches up to 100% in goslings in acute episodes (Tolgay 1973, Soulsby 1986). Eimeria anseris Kotlán, 1933, E. kotlani Gräfner and Graubmann, 1964, E. nocens Kotlán, 1933, E. stigmosa Klime, 1963 and Tyzzeria parvula Klime, 1963 are the most common species involved in intestinal Address for correspondence: Mükremin Özkan Arslan, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Kafkas, 36040, Kars, Turkey; Fax: 0090 4742426853; E-mail: marslan25@hotmail.com