Learn More About Coccidiosis

Cocci Treatments

What is Coccidiosis?
Coccidiosis is a Protozoan, a one-celled animal. It is not visible to the naked eye, but is visible under a microscope (easily identified in fecal flotations). Coccidiosis usually produces infection in young kittens and puppies, but adult pets can also be affected.

How is it transmitted?
Transmission occurs from animal to animal through feces that contain oocysts. Other animals can act as an intermediate or transport host. The entire life cycle lasts one week. Cocci can be found in the stools without causing any problems until a stress factor causes an outbreak.

What are the symptoms?
Diarrhea is the main sign. In severe cases, feces are mucus-like & bloody. It can be complicated by a loss of appetite, weakness, dehydration & anemia.

What is the treatment?
Call us for products to help you fight the disease. If you want to do your own slides, see our section on equipment for the microscope and fecal flotation systems. We also carry two good books that will benefit you in your microscope discovery - Veterinary Clinical Parasitology and Diagnostic Parasitology for Veterinary Technicians. Check them out; you'll be glad you did.

Helpful tools in your fight against Coccidiosis & Parasites
When examining fecal samples remember...

1. The sample must be fresh.
   
2. If it cannot be examined within a few hours, refrigerate the sample.
   
3. Do not freeze fecal sample.
   
4. When checking for Giardia or tapeworm eggs, do not use saturated sodium chloride, sodium nitrate or magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) as a medium.
   
5. A 33% zinc sulfate solution and a concentrated sugar solution will cause less distortion of Giardia cysts than saline salt solutions.
   
6. Use 10x magnification for scanning slider, 40x magnification for smaller organisms such as Giardia.