title: Coccidiosis in the European badger, Meles meles in Wytham Woods: infection and consequences for growth and survival.
abstract: In total 1502 faecal samples were collected from a population of European badgers (Meles meles) between 1992 and 1995 at Wytham Woods, Oxfordshire, UK. Two coccidia species, Eimeria melis and Isospora melis, were identified. Cubs showed a marked seasonal pattern of infection with E. melis, with infection occurring at significantly higher intensity and prevalence than in adults. There was preliminary evidence to suggest that infantile coccidiosis in badgers may be associated with impaired growth and increased mortality.
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, UK. chris.newman@zoology.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Anwar
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002335:Carnivora / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004539:Eimeria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D007549:Isospora / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology