Message Number: YPG592 | New FHL Archives Search
From: "Sukie Crandall"
Date: 2006-12-19 05:00:09 UTC
Subject: Coccidia Re: [ferrethealth] Digest Number 54
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com

Dr. Ruth Heller writes:


> The tricky thing about coccidia is to look for it and to be able to recognize
> the less common species of coccidia found in some cases. For example, the
> most common one seen by vets is Isospora - but one often found in ferrets is
> Eimeria, which looks slightly different and is a bit different size. Depending
> on the experience and training of the person running the fecal sample, it might
> be missed due to that. Also, occasionally an animal will break with diarrhea
> prior to the beginning of shedding of large numbers of oocysts, so a negative
> sample early in the disease might be a problem with diagnosis.**


Thanks so much for pointing out the differences between the two genera! The recurrent
coccidia being seen is ferrets has turned out to be an Eimeria species, so that shows that it
might be missed by someone who is concentrating on finding Isospora.

The shedding point is also excellent. Dr. Bruce Williams suggestions fits perfectly with
your point:

http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG3104

BEGIN QUOTE (from Dr. Bruce Williams, ferret veterinary pathologist)

Coccidia is relatively easy to diagnose with several sequential fecal
tests - they are intermittently shed, so it takes 2-3 tests over a
week to definitively rule them out.

END QUOTE

Thanks so much, Dr. Ruth!




Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:ferrethealth-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:ferrethealth-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ferrethealth-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/