title: Diversity of Eimeria spp. in dairy cattle of Guwahati, Assam, India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and diversity of Eimeria spp. in dairy cattle present in and around Guwahati, Kamrup district, Assam, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2339 fecal samples of calves (535), heifer (641) and adult (1163) cattle were screened for 1 year present in and around Guwahati, Assam for detection of Eimeria oocysts by flotation techniques. Sporulation of the oocyst was done in 2.5% potassium dichromate solution for identification of the Eimeria species.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Examination of fecal samples revealed an overall prevalence of 11.97% Eimeria infection in dairy cattle of Guwahati, Assam. Age-wise, 33.2%, 45.4%, and 21.4% infections were recorded in calves (<1 year), heifer (1-3 years) and adult (>3 years) cattle, respectively. Season-wise, infection was recorded highest during post-monsoon (16.29%), followed by monsoon (15%), winter (9.44%), and pre-monsoon (7.49%) season. Seven species of Eimeria were recorded viz. Eimeria bovis, Eimeria zuernii, Eimeria subspherica, Eimeria bukidnonensis, Eimeria auburnensis, Eimeria ellipsoidalis and Eimeria alabamensis. The oocyst count per gram of feces ranged from 50 to 1500 in infected cattle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that there is the prevalence of seven species of Eimeria in dairy cattle of Guwahati, Assam and mostly prevalent during the post-monsoon season.
authors.affiliation: ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Barapani, Meghalaya, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science, Guwahati, Assam, India.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Deka
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science, Guwahati, Assam, India.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Sarmah
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science, Guwahati, Assam, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, C.V.Sc, Guwahati, Assam, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarma
keywords: Assam; Eimeria spp; dairy cattle; prevalence