A Study on the prevalence of Bovine Coccidiosis insome Dairy Farms at Alborz Province (Iran)

Coccidiosis is one of the common intestinal infections in calves worldwide. Different Species of Eimeria protozoanscauses coccidiosis in dairy farms. These protozoa live in intestinal epithelial cells and its life cycle in intestine causessevere diarrhea in young calves. 15 different Eimeria spp. Had been recognized around the world which E.bovis andE.zurnii are the most virulent.In this study, 3 dairy farm at Alborz province in Iran were studied.100 faecal samples were taken and after sporulationof those in 2.5% potassium bichromate presence of Eimerial oocysts were surveyed by using Flotation method suchas Clayton-Layn and Modifed Mc master techniques. The results showed that infection were only in calves, Meaninfection rate was 2%,which this rate is near the results of Razavi and colleagues studies in dairy farms of Shirazregion but is less than Yakhchali study in Sanandaj Province of Iran.All Positive calves in our study were under 3 months of age. The low infection rate in this study is related to animal’sage, individual characteristics and good management of farms, but the latter is probably more important.