Featured Speakers:

H. C. Mundt
Germany

C. R. Hermosilla
United Kingdom

Coccidiosis in mammals is an insidious threat and cause of economic loss for farmers. In this symposium, the epidemiology and immunity of coccidiosis will be discussed, and ways to better combat coccidiosis in mammals. Coccidiosis in mammals is caused by different pathogenic Eimeria species (cattle and sheep) and Isospora suis (pig). There are three main factors playing important role in the epidemiology of coccidiosis. These are the host animals, the environment and the parasite itself. Due to the variable epidemiological characteristics of coccidiosis caused by different Eimeria sp. and I. suis infections, the disease varies in terms of outbreak time and type of disease course. The age of animals, their immune status, the management system and environmental conditions are highly determinant factors in disease outbreak. Taking into account that the parasite itself needs to multiply via nuclear division in host intestinal mucosa cells for a certain time (prepatent period), causing intestinal damage and consequent clinical symptoms, the preventive method can be established according to the epidemiological character of each Eimeria sp. or I. suis coccidiosis. The immunity for the disease is important because the animals, whether untreated or treated, should build a natural immunity. This kind of immunity requires exposure to certain stages of the parasite, such as the extracellular stage (especially sporozoites). Therefore, the interaction of sporozoites with host cells should not be interrupted as sporozoites are immunogenic.