Alpaca Nutrition News                                           July 2008

Coccidiosis

Approximately 400 species of microorganisms can be found in the ruminant/pseudo-ruminant gastrointestinal tract at any one time. However, in the healthy animal, gut populations are dominated by just a handful of beneficial microbes. These populous species are determined by diet, including type and amount of forage.

When an animal experiences stress, many of the predominating microbes die. This leaves gaps in the protective barrier they usually present. These gaps are quickly filled by opportunistic pathogens. These pathogens are usually always present, albeit in small numbers, even In healthy animals.

Most opportunistic pathogens, including the protozoans that cause coccidiosis, are not good competitors. Their numbers are kept low by the big guns that predominate the gut. However, these predatory types are always alert for openings.

Most of the protozoans that cause coccidiosis belong to the family Eimeriidae. One of the remarkable things about this pathogen is the short amount of time they need to get up and running, and make your animals sick. Once they get their foot in the door, so to speak, they quickly proliferate and irritate the lining of the gut. Different species within family Eimeriidae prefer deferent areas of the gastrointestinal tract, but all make the host animal miserable.

Fortunately, these pathogens are also intimidated by probiotic microorganisms. Like the indigenous big guns, probiotics, especially the more concentrated forms, can suppress coccidia proliferation if given before, during and/or after the initiating stress.

If a stressful activity such as birth, weaning, shearing, transportation, or showing is on the schedule, save yourself a call to the vet and pre-treat with a concentrated probiotic. Repeated doses are recommended after especially stressful activities such as showing.

Probably the most effective probiotic on the market today is MSE. It comes in both drench and paste and is available at naturs-way.com.

If the animal develops diarrhea, use Scour-aid, either top-dressed or mixed in water and given orally. It is recommended that Scour-aid be used in tandem with MSE drench or paste. Scour-aid only controls the diarrhea, the MSE helps control the responsible pathogen.  Scour-aid can also be purchased at naturs-way.com.

Please write nutritionist Lark Burnham at lark@naturs-way.com if you have any questions.