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Coccidiosis and Toxoplasmosis in young ruminants

Parasitic diseases can have a significant impact on the health and productivity of youngstock and breeding animals. Coccidiosis can reduce growth rates and feed efficiency in calves and lambs, while toxoplasmosis is one of the leading causes of abortion in sheep. 

By focusing on hygiene, biosecurity, good feed and water management, stress reduction and strategic parasite control, producers can protect animal health, improve performance and support long-term farm profitability. Always consult your own veterinary surgeon for diagnosis and advice.

On this page:

Definitions
Symptoms
Cause and effect
Solutions
Treatments

DEFINITIONS & MEANING

What are Coccidiosis and Toxoplasmosis?

Coccidiosis is caused by parasites belonging to the Eimeria family and primarily affects young calves (less than a year old) and lambs, which are particularly susceptible because they haven't yet developed immunity. Infection occurs when infective oocysts are ingested through contaminated feed, water, bedding or pasture. These parasites damage the intestinal tract, which can result in diarrhoea, reduced feed efficiency and poorer growth performance.

Toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii and mainly affects sheep, causing abortion, stillbirths and weak lambs.

Both diseases can have significant impacts on animal welfare, productivity and farm profitability if left unmanaged. In severe cases, they can result in mortality.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of Coccidiosis

Clinical signs can vary depending on the severity of infection but commonly include:

  • Diarrhoea, sometimes containing blood or mucus

  • Reduced feed intake

  • Dehydration

  • Weight loss and poor growth rates

  • Poor thrive and reduced feed efficiency

  • Straining during defecation

  • Increased susceptibility to secondary diseases

Even subclinical infections can have a significant impact on performance by reducing nutrient absorption and growth.

Toxoplasmosis in Sheep

Toxoplasmosis is primarily a reproductive disease. Common signs include:

  • Early embryonic loss
  • Abortion
  • Stillbirths
  • Mummified foetuses
  • Weak lambs with poor survival rates
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“Proper environmental cleanliness and nutrition are also key to help the body build natural immunity to the disease." 

 

Carolina Daglio, Key Account Manager Phibro

Cause and effect

The causes of coccidiosis

Coccidiosis develops when animals ingest Eimeria oocysts from a contaminated environment. Once inside the intestine, the parasites multiply rapidly and damage intestinal cells, resulting in diarrhoea, reduced nutrient absorption and poorer growth performance.

Risk factors include:

  • High stocking densities
  • Poor hygiene
  • Stress associated with weaning, transport or regrouping
  • Contaminated feed and water sources

Toxoplasmosis occurs when sheep consume feed, bedding or water contaminated with cat faeces containing Toxoplasma gondii oocysts. If infection occurs during pregnancy, the parasite can cross the placenta and infect the developing foetus, leading to reproductive losses.

 

Diagnosis

Coccidiosis
Early diagnosis is important to minimise the impact of coccidiosis on growth and performance. If calves or lambs show signs such as diarrhoea, poor growth or reduced feed intake, your veterinarian may use a combination of clinical signs, animal age, management history and faecal testing to confirm a diagnosis.

Toxoplasmosis
Diagnosing toxoplasmosis can be challenging because infected ewes often show few signs before abortion occurs. Diagnosis is typically based on flock history, abortion patterns and laboratory testing of blood, placental tissue or aborted foetuses.

For both coccidiosis and toxoplasmosis, veterinary investigation is important to confirm the cause and implement the most appropriate control measures.

Solutions

How to prevent coccidiosis and toxoplasmosis?

For coccidiosis, key measures include:

  • Maintaining clean, dry housing
  • Avoiding overcrowding
  • Managing age groups separately
  • Reducing faecal contamination of feeders and drinkers
  • Implementing appropriate parasite prevention programmes under veterinary guidance

For toxoplasmosis, prevention focuses on reducing contamination from cats:

  • Restrict cat access to feed stores and bedding
  • Protect forage, silage and concentrates
  • Implement rodent control programmes
  • Monitor abortion patterns within the flock
  • Consider vaccination where available and appropriate

Learn how to support the immune capability of dairy cows for optimised health and production.

Treatments

Treatments for Coccidiosis and Toxoplasmosis

For coccidiosis, early diagnosis and timely intervention can help minimise the impact of disease. Anticoccidial products may form part of a comprehensive control programme alongside good hygiene and management practices.

For toxoplasmosis, there is no practical treatment capable of reversing foetal infection once reproductive damage has occurred. Therefore, prevention remains the most effective approach.

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Get a farm consult

If you’d like to find out more about how we could help you to optimise your herd’s performance, please submit your telephone number to request a callback. We’ll call you within three working days to set a date for a telephone or face-to-face meeting to discuss the following:

1

Current situation analysis

We’ll work with you to understand your herd’s current status and to identify areas for improvement.

2

Designing a plan of action

We’ll recommend where improvements can be made and how our products can unlock your herd’s full potential.

3

Evaluation

we’ll carry out a detailed review to make sure the changes we’ve put in place are working effectively and, where necessary, provide additional support and advice to enable your herd to continue to improve.

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