Intestinal Coccidia of Sheep and Goats. 501 



liemorrliagic diarrhea and tlie rapid emaciation suggest the diag- 

 nosis. The detection of the coccidia by microscopic examination 

 of the feces makes the diagnosis absolute and exchides rectal 

 hemorrhage of cattle (see page 325). 



Coccidia are at first found in the diarrheic stools only sparingly; they appear, 

 however, in large numbers in the shreds of mucus and they can, according to Ziiblin, 

 be seen in the voided coagula. In the terminal stages of the disease the number of coc- 

 cidia again decreases. In order to lind the coccidia more easily Ziiblin recommends to 

 stain microscopic cover glass preparations with Lugol 's solution. Coccidia have not 

 been found in the feces of healthy cattle even in infected herds. 



Treatment and Prophylaxis. Pasturing should be inter- 

 rupted and dry feeding instituted, if the disease appears in a 

 herd. Disinfectants (creolin, lysol, resorcin, sodium thio-sul- 

 phuricum) have been used as long as the disease has been 

 known; also astringents (tannic acid, argentum nitricum, fer- 

 rum sulfuricum) in the form of rectal injections in weak solu- 

 tions, or they may be given as a mucilage or with milk by the 

 mouth. Ziiblin saw good results from rectal injections with 1 

 per cent tannic acid or 1 per cent alum. If the animals suffer 

 from lack of appetite, they must be fed with milk and eggs to 

 which claret might advantageously be added. 



As a prophylactic measure the ingestion of dirty water from 

 pools and marshes must be prevented ; if the disease makes its 

 appearance, the healthy animals should receive dry feeding, or 

 they should at least be brought to dry pastures where they have 

 access to pure water. The feces should be soaked with a 3 per 

 cent watery solution of sulphuric acid ; this kills the coccidia. 



Literature. Bugge, Warringsholz & Sieg, D. t. W., 1909, 769 (Lit.).— Degoix, 

 Eev. gen., 1904, III, 177.— Ducloux, ibid., 1906, VII, 138.— Hess, Schw. A., 1892, 

 XXXIV, 105.— Martin, Eev. vet., 1909, 280.— Zschokke, Schw. A., 1892, XXXIV, 1.— 

 Ziiblin, Schw. A., 1908, L, 123 (Lit.).— Ziirn, Vortr. f. Trzte., 1878, I, H, 2. 



(b) Intestinal Coccidiosis of Sheep and Goats. Coccidiosis ovum et 



caprarum. 



Coccidia have repeatedly been found in the intestinal tract of 

 sheep, but the disease caused by them has only recently been studied 

 by Moussu & Marotel. The latter has also studied coccidiosis of sheep. 

 Suckling lambs as well as adult sheep are affected, the latter more fre- 

 (juently. The symptoms are those of progressive anemia, eniaciation 

 and diarrhea. Death occurs after several M^eeks from exhaustion; the 

 feces do not become hemorrhagic, nor are any coccidia found in the dis- 

 charges from the intestinal tract. The somewhat reddened mucosa of 

 the small intestines shows whitish points, which are formed by masses 

 of coccidia which have invaded the glands of Lieberkiihn. This species 

 of protozoa has been called Coccidium Faurei. 



Intestinal coccidiosis in goats is caused by Coccidium Arloingi 

 (Marotel) ; its exogenous development is like that of C. cunicuh. Path- 

 ologic changes are exclusively found in the small intestine of goats, 

 their picture is on the whole similar to that found in coccidiosis of 



