A review of coccidiosis in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

Authors: Dubey, Jitender

Submitted to: Veterinary Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2018
Publication Date: 5/30/2018
Citation: Dubey, J.P. 2018. A review of coccidiosis in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). Veterinary Parasitology. 256: 50-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.04.005

Interpretive Summary: Toxoplasma, Neospora, Sarcocystis, Eimeria, and Cystoisopora are related coccidian parasites that cause severe illness in livestock. Oocyst is the environmentally resistant stage passed in feces of the definitive hosts. While Toxoplasma and Neospora have wide host range, Eimeria are generally host specific. Coccidiosis due to Eimeria is an important cause of diarrhea in livestock worldwide. More than a dozen Eimeria species are considered common in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) and cattle (Bos taurus, Bos indicus). There are many reports of Eimeria infections in buffaloes, scattered in many local journals, and there are conflicting life cycle data on Eimeria species in buffalo. Dubey has summarized information on history, validity of Eimeria species, life cycle, pathogenicity, prevalence, epidemiology, diagnosis and control of coccidiosis in buffalo. These results will be of interest to parasitologists and veterinarians in diagnosis of coccidiosis in bovids.

Technical Abstract: The water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is important to the economy of several countries in Asia, and South America and there are also isolated herds in Europe. In India, buffalo is the main dairy animal. Coccidiosis due to Eimeria is an important cause of diarrhea in livestock worldwide. Eimeria species are generally considered host specific. More than a dozen Eimeria species are considered common in buffaloes and ox (Bos taurus, Bos indicus). Of the numerous species of Eimeria in ox, Eimeria bovis, Eimeria zuernii, Eimeria auburnensis and Eimeria alabamensis are considered pathogenic in ox, but there is no report of their pathogenicity in naturally infected water buffaloes. Instead, Eimeria bareillyi has been documented to be the main pathogenic species in buffalo; it is not transmissible to ox. There are many reports of Eimeria infections in buffaloes, scattered in many local journals, and there are conflicting life cycle data on Eimeria species in buffalo. The objective of this paper is to summarize information on history, validity of Eimeria species, life cycle, pathogenicity, prevalence, epidemiology, diagnosis and control of coccidiosis in buffalo.