Prevalence and Pathology of Caprine Coccidiosis in South Darfur State, Sudan

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence and pathology of coccidiosis in local breeds of goats in South Darfur State and the factors affecting it. One hundred faecal samples were directly collected from the rectum during September – December 2017, from goats, kept in an open system. The animals were grouped according to sex (34 males and 66 females), and according to age group (85 goats in the age one year or more, 15 less than one year). Oocysts were detected using the floatation method; the McMaster method was used for oocysts count. Length, width and size were measured by calibrated microscope attached to computer for the parasite identification. On the other hand, 100 samples of intestine sections were collected for gross and microscopic examination, from Nyala North slaughterhouse. The gross intestinal lesions were reported and sections for histopathology were made according to standard method. The overall prevalence of coccidiosis in goats was 65% in South Darfur State. Eimeria species identified were: E. alijevi (15.7%), E. hirci (26.3%), E. ninakohlyakimovae (36.8%), and E. caprovina (21%). The infection was higher in goat kids compared to adults. The gross lesions were characterized by scattered white nodules in the intestinal wall particularly in the jejunum and ileum as well as hemorrhages. Microscopically there were hemorrhages in the mucosa; hyperplasia of the mucosal epithelium with infiltration of inflammatory cells mainly lymphocytes, plasma cells, and eosinophils in the lamina propria, and presence of different developmental stages of the parasite in the intestinal epithelium and mucosal glands. Coccidiosis in goats resulting from complex interactions between parasites and host with many factors contributing to the severity of the disease, kids are more susceptible to infection with the clinical coccidiosis.