Small Ruminant Research ELSEVIER Small Ruminant Research 21 (1996) 127-131 Coccidiosis of small ruminants in Tanzania L.J.M. Kusiluka aT *, D.M. Kambarage a, R.W. Matthewman b, L.J.S. Harrison b, C.J. Daborn b zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQ a Departtnent of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary M edicine, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3021, Morogoro, Tanzania b Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Easter Bush, Roslin. Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK Accepted 11 January 1996 zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPON Abstract A study was conducted to determine the prevalence and types of coccidia species in slaughter goats and sheep in Tanzania. A total of 91% (191/210) of goats and 93% (40/43) of sheep were infected with coccidia. The mean coccidia oocyst counts were 3200 g- zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA ’ faeces (range 100-46000) in goats and 2900 g- ’ faeces (range 100-l 1400) in sheep. Eimeriu species found in goats were Eimeria alijevi (63%). Eimeria arloingi (55%), Eimeria caprina (26%), Eimeria ninakohlyaki- movae (26%), Eimeria caprouina (16%). Eimeria hirci (5%), Eimeria jolchijevi (5%) and Eimeria christenseni (3%). Eimeria crandallis (96%), Eimeria parva (92%), Eimeria ovinoidalis (29%). Eimeria bakuensis (29%), Eimeria faurei (29%), Eimeria ahsata (21%) and Eimeria granulosa (8%) infected the sheep. This is the first report on coccidia infecting goats in Tanzania. The presence of pathogenic species of Eimeria in goats (Eimeria alijevi. E. arloingi, E. ninakohlyaki- novae and E. christenseni) and in sheep (E. ovinoidulis and E. ahsatu) suggests that coccidiosis may be contributing to the enteric syndromes affecting small ruminants in the country. Keywords: Coccidiosis; Eimeria; Goats; Sheep 1. Introduction Gastro-intestinal parasites are widespread and are a serious problem of the livestock industry in the tropics (Varghese and Yayabu, 1985). The most common and important gastro-intestinal parasites in ruminants are helminths and coccidia (Maingi et al., 1993; Waruiru et al., 1993). Concurrent helminth and coccidia infections are common and have cumu- lative pathogenic effects in animals (Chhabra and * Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, Fac- ulty of Veterinary Medicine, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3021, Morogoro, Tanzania (Fax: 255 56 4088/3177). Pandey, 1991). The types, epidemiology and impor- tance of helminth infections in small ruminants in sub-Saharan Africa are well documented (Veen, 1973; Assoku, 1981; Lutu, 1983; Connor, 1985; Njau, 1987; Fabiyi, 1987; Ndamukong et al., 1989; Connor et al., 1990; Fakae, 1990). Although coccidiosis is mainly a subclinical infec- tion, it is associated with poor growth rates, diar- rhoea, dysentery and anaemia (Soulsby, 1982). How- ever, coccidiosis is considered to be one of the economically most important diseases in intensive sheep and goat industries in the world (Varghese and Yayabu, 1985; Chhabra and Pandey, 1991). Stress factors such as weaning, change of diet, inclement 0092L4488/96/$15.00 0 1996 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PII SO921 -4488(96)00860-7