Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease of the intestinal tract of poultry that is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Eimeria.
What type of pathogen is coccidiosis?
Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease of the intestinal tract of animals caused by coccidian protozoa. The disease spreads from one animal to another by contact with infected feces or ingestion of infected tissue. Diarrhea, which may become bloody in severe cases, is the primary symptom.
What causes coccidiosis in animals?
Coccidia oocysts are ingested by animals when they consume contaminated feed, water, pastures or lick a dirty hair coat. If ingested, the parasite can develop inside the host animal, causing damage to intestinal cells and potentially resulting in the host animal having diarrhea and blood in the feces.
What causes coccidiosis in humans?
Human coccidiosis is caused primarily by Toxoplasma gondii, which often is transmitted to humans by infected cats or dogs and results in an illness known as toxoplasmosis.
Is coccidiosis a parasite?
Coccidia are tiny single-celled parasites that live in the wall of your dog's intestine. They are found more often in puppies, but they can also infect older dogs and cats. Dogs become infected by swallowing soil that contains coccidia or other substances in the environment that may contain dog feces.
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