Prevalence of Eimeria infection in calves in and around Sekota town, North Wollo, Ethiopia

A crosssectional study was carried out from July to October 2014 in and around Sekota town in order to determine the prevalence, and associated risk factors of Eimeria infection in calves. To achieve these objectives direct fecal smear technique was employed. From a total of 384 calves examined 23(6.0%)of calves were positive for Eimeria infection. The prevalence of bovine coccidiosis in calve based on breed variation were 22(5.9%) and 1(8.3%) in local and cross breed respectively. The prevalence of bovine coccidiosis in calve based on sex variation, male 8(6.25%) and female 15(6.0%) recorded.The prevalence of bovine coccidiosis in calve based on address variation, Urban12 (6.7%) and rural 11(5.3%). The prevalence of bovine coccidiosis in calve based on age variation 0-6 month 9(5.7%) and >6-1year 14 (6.2%). The prevalence of bovine coccidiosis in calve based on body condition variation, good 7(6.0%), medium 14(8.3%) and poor 2(2.0%). The prevalence of bovine coccidiosis in calve based on fecal consistency variation, normal 3(1.8%), soft 8(7.5%) and bloody diarrhea 12 (10.9%).The prevalence of bovine coccidiosis in calve based on management system, intensive 1(8.3%) and extensive 22(5.9%). Prevalence associated with breed, sex, age, body condition, address and management system had no significant difference (p > 0.05), but the presence of bloody diarrhea in examined calve of fecal consistency were observed as the most important factors associated with occurrences of Eimeria infection in calves. There was significant association (p<0.005) between the intensity of infection of the calves and bloody diarrhea consistency of the faeces.