Coccidia Oocysts under the Microscope

Species: dogs and cats

Scientific names: Isospora canis, Isospora ohioensis and Isospora burrowsi (dogs); Isospora felis and Isospora rivolta (cats)

Clinical signs: some animals asymptomatic, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration and death

Mode of transmission: oral ingestion of oocysts

Diagnosis: oocysts on fecal examination

Treatment: sulfonamide drugs; supportive care

Prevention:

• Pick up feces immediately with plastic bag and discard into trashcan until infection resolved
• Wash hands well after handling feces
• Prevent coprophagia (ingestion of feces)
• Drying and sunlight are effective at killing infective cysts
• Chemical disinfectants have little effectiveness

Please contact our veterinarians at Animal Medical Hospital in Saint Petersburg, Florida (FL) at 727-896-7127 for more information.