Regional profile of ovine coccidiosis in Rajasthan

A total of 60373 faecal samples from sheep maintained either in farm or field conditions in different agroclimatic region of Rajasthan were screened for prevalence of coccidian from the year 2002 to 2008. The overall incidence of coccidian in sheep of Rajasthan was 37.87% with relatively higher incidence in semi-arid agroclimatic conditions and in flocks maintained in farm conditions. The seasonal prevalence was maximum (41.85%) in monsoon and minimum (32.80%) in summer. On continuous persuasions an adoption of practices for better sanitation and use of chemoprophylactic measures resulted in gradual declining in annual prevalence from 50.17% (2002) to 23.95% (2008). On sporulation the species of Eimeria encountered were E. parva, E. pallida, E. faurei, E. intricata, E. ninakohlyakimoviae, E. granulosa and E. ahsata. The information gathered in this study on the occurrence of the Eimeria species indicated that there are seasonal and/or management related differences in the prevalence and proportion of several species.