The seasonal incidence of coccidia infections in trade cattle, sheep, and goats in Nigeria.

A survey of coccidia infections in trade cattle, sheep, and goats was undertaken in Nigeria between April 1978 and March 1979. Faecal examinations showed coccidia oocysts in 1,456 (56 per cent) of 2,600 calves, 832 (80 per cent) out of 1,040 sheep, and 468 (45 per cent) out of 1,040 goats. There were relatively few coccidia oocysts between October and March and peaks occurred in August and September. Nine species of Eimeria were identified in bovine faeces, and seven species in both sheep and goats. Eimeria bovis and E. zurnii are predominant in cattle, whereas E. faurei and E. ninakohlyakimovae have the highest percentage occurrence in sheep and goats in Nigeria. The effects of seasonal influences on the abundance of coccidia oocysts among ruminants in Nigeria are stressed.