Prevalence and Morphological Identification of Eimeria Species in Sheep in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt.

A total of 146 samples of sheep feces were collected from animals in Sharkia Province, Egypt to detect the occurrence and morphological features of Eimeria species. To detect Eimeria oocysts, the samples were microscopically inspected by direct smear and centrifugal flotation by Sheather's sugar method. Risk factors including season, age and sex were studied. The overall prevalence was 41.7% with higher incidence in winter (70%) than in summer (24.4%). The infection rate was greater in females (44%) than in males (33.3%) and in animals under a year old (72.7%) than animals aged one to two years (48%), and animals aged more than two years (20.6%). According to the morphological characteristics of the sporulated oocyst, ten species were recognized. The most often observed Eimeria species was E. bakuensis, accounting for (47.5%) of the total, followed by E. ovinialis at (9.8%), E. ahsata at (8.1%), E. granulosa at (6.5%), and E. faurei, E. weybridgensis, E. parva, E. pallida, and E. marsica, all of which were present at an equal proportion of (4.9%). The lowest prevalent species was E. crandallis, accounting for (3.2%). Considering our findings, which indicate that more than one third or nearly half of the sheep in Sharkia are infected with Eimeria, and that the season and age of the animals are significant risk factors for infection with coccidiosis, therefore, there is an urgent need for a plan to manage the disease in Egypt. Hence, this disease is a significant factor in the economic losses due to mortality, weight loss, and decreased production in animals and it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of its life cycle to develop effective preventative measures.