Seasonal distribution of bovine coccidia in beef cattle herd in the university farm.

Abstract

Fecal samples (2,019) from cattle in the university farm, Tohoku University, were examined for coccidian oocysts from April 1986 to January 1987, and 19.3% of them was positive for Eimeria spp. Thirteen Eimeria species were identified. Eimeria bovis (25.7%) was the most dominant species, followed by E. auburnensis (17.6%), E. canadensis (14.5%), E. alabamensis (9.7%), E. ellipsoidalis (8.1%), E. zuernii (7.0%), E. bukidnonensis (5.4%), E. brasiliensis (3.9%), E. cylindrica (1.3%), E. illinoiensis (0.4%), and E. pellita (0.2%). Fecal samples positive for coccidial oocysts amounted to 12.9% and 26.7% on average during grazing on pasture and loose housing, respectively.