Bovine coccidiosis: Retrospective study in Central Argentina
Bovine coccidiosis is a gastrointestinal disease of cattle with worldwide distribution caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Eimeria. Bovine coccidiosis mainly affects calves worldwide, frequently triggered by stressful management events, with consequent impact on cattle production and economic...
| Autores principales: | , , , , |
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| Formato: | info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
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Elsevier
2026
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/24979 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2405939025002187 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101410 |
| _version_ | 1855039040307331072 |
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| author | Vilatuña, E.J. Canton, German Jose Morrell, Eleonora Lidia Lloberas, María Mercedes Garcia, Juan Agustin |
| author_browse | Canton, German Jose Garcia, Juan Agustin Lloberas, María Mercedes Morrell, Eleonora Lidia Vilatuña, E.J. |
| author_facet | Vilatuña, E.J. Canton, German Jose Morrell, Eleonora Lidia Lloberas, María Mercedes Garcia, Juan Agustin |
| author_sort | Vilatuña, E.J. |
| collection | INTA Digital |
| description | Bovine coccidiosis is a gastrointestinal disease of cattle with worldwide distribution caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Eimeria. Bovine coccidiosis mainly affects calves worldwide, frequently triggered by stressful management events, with consequent impact on cattle production and economic outcome. Most reports are from subtropical to tropical regions, where environmental conditions favor continuous oocyst survival and dissemination. In the present study we describe 63 outbreaks of bovine coccidiosis that occurred in the central region of Argentina, recorded by the Veterinary Specialized Diagnostic Service (SDVE) INTA Balcarce. Epidemiological information and clinical signs were registered, and 43 necropsies from 35 outbreaks were performed, followed by histopathological evaluation. In addition, 192 fecal samples from 52 outbreaks were analyzed for oocysts per gram of feces and eggs per gram of feces quantification, for identification of Eimeria spp. and gastrointestinal nematodes, respectively. Outbreaks occurred throughout the year but occurred significantly more often in autumn and predominantly in cow-calf systems. Calves younger than 12 months were the most affected group, with outbreaks commonly associated to stress factors such as weaning, recent transportation, and overcrowding. Mean morbidity and mortality were 5.6 % and 2.6 %, respectively. Affected animals generally presented diarrhea containing blood and/or mucosal debris and nervous signs were frequently recorded. Gross findings included multifocal to coalescing segmental hemorrhages in the large intestine. Histopathological findings revealed diffuse necrotizing and mononuclear enteritis with abundant intraepithelial parasitic structures consistent with Eimeria zuernii and E. bovid. Oocyst counts in feces varied widely, from 0 up to 2,240,000 per gram. Overall, a high prevalence of bovine coccidiosis in central Argentina was evident, mostly under suboptimal husbandry conditions. The findings provide valuable insights into the epidemiology and pathology of the disease and may contribute to more effective diagnostic approaches and control strategies in cattle production systems. |
| format | info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo |
| id | INTA24979 |
| institution | Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA -Argentina) |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| publisherStr | Elsevier |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | INTA249792026-01-09T17:56:57Z Bovine coccidiosis: Retrospective study in Central Argentina Vilatuña, E.J. Canton, German Jose Morrell, Eleonora Lidia Lloberas, María Mercedes Garcia, Juan Agustin Rumiantes Ganado Bovino Parásitos Coccidiosis Argentina Enfermedad de los Animales Ruminants Cattle Parasites Animal Diseases Bovine coccidiosis is a gastrointestinal disease of cattle with worldwide distribution caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Eimeria. Bovine coccidiosis mainly affects calves worldwide, frequently triggered by stressful management events, with consequent impact on cattle production and economic outcome. Most reports are from subtropical to tropical regions, where environmental conditions favor continuous oocyst survival and dissemination. In the present study we describe 63 outbreaks of bovine coccidiosis that occurred in the central region of Argentina, recorded by the Veterinary Specialized Diagnostic Service (SDVE) INTA Balcarce. Epidemiological information and clinical signs were registered, and 43 necropsies from 35 outbreaks were performed, followed by histopathological evaluation. In addition, 192 fecal samples from 52 outbreaks were analyzed for oocysts per gram of feces and eggs per gram of feces quantification, for identification of Eimeria spp. and gastrointestinal nematodes, respectively. Outbreaks occurred throughout the year but occurred significantly more often in autumn and predominantly in cow-calf systems. Calves younger than 12 months were the most affected group, with outbreaks commonly associated to stress factors such as weaning, recent transportation, and overcrowding. Mean morbidity and mortality were 5.6 % and 2.6 %, respectively. Affected animals generally presented diarrhea containing blood and/or mucosal debris and nervous signs were frequently recorded. Gross findings included multifocal to coalescing segmental hemorrhages in the large intestine. Histopathological findings revealed diffuse necrotizing and mononuclear enteritis with abundant intraepithelial parasitic structures consistent with Eimeria zuernii and E. bovid. Oocyst counts in feces varied widely, from 0 up to 2,240,000 per gram. Overall, a high prevalence of bovine coccidiosis in central Argentina was evident, mostly under suboptimal husbandry conditions. The findings provide valuable insights into the epidemiology and pathology of the disease and may contribute to more effective diagnostic approaches and control strategies in cattle production systems. EEA Balcarce Fil: Vilatuña, E.J. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible (IPADS); Argentina Fil: Vilatuña, E.J: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible (IPADS); Argentina Fil: Cantón, Germán José. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible (IPADS); Argentina Fil: Canton, German Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible (IPADS); Argentina Fil: Morrell, Eleonora. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible (IPADS); Argentina Fil: Morrell, Eleonora. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible (IPADS); Argentina Fil: Lloberas, María Mercedes. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible (IPADS); Argentina Fil: Lloberas, Maria Mercedes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) . Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible (IPADS); Argentina Fil: García, Juan Agustín. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible (IPADS); Argentina Fil: Garcia, Juan Agustin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible (IPADS); Argentina 2026-01-09T17:21:02Z 2026-01-09T17:21:02Z 2026-01 info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/24979 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2405939025002187 2405-9390 (online) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101410 eng info:eu-repograntAgreement/INTA/2019-RIST-E5-I111-001, Laboratorios de Diagnóstico Veterinario info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) application/pdf Elsevier Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports 67, 101410 (January 2026) |
| spellingShingle | Rumiantes Ganado Bovino Parásitos Coccidiosis Argentina Enfermedad de los Animales Ruminants Cattle Parasites Animal Diseases Vilatuña, E.J. Canton, German Jose Morrell, Eleonora Lidia Lloberas, María Mercedes Garcia, Juan Agustin Bovine coccidiosis: Retrospective study in Central Argentina |
| title | Bovine coccidiosis: Retrospective study in Central Argentina |
| title_full | Bovine coccidiosis: Retrospective study in Central Argentina |
| title_fullStr | Bovine coccidiosis: Retrospective study in Central Argentina |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bovine coccidiosis: Retrospective study in Central Argentina |
| title_short | Bovine coccidiosis: Retrospective study in Central Argentina |
| title_sort | bovine coccidiosis retrospective study in central argentina |
| topic | Rumiantes Ganado Bovino Parásitos Coccidiosis Argentina Enfermedad de los Animales Ruminants Cattle Parasites Animal Diseases |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/24979 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2405939025002187 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101410 |
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