Isolation, identification and characterization of field isolates of Eimeria spp. In bovine farms of Venezuela

Coccidiosis is one of the most important parasitic diseases of cattle mainly under intensive production system, affecting health and productivity and causing economic losses of approximately $ 723 million per year around the world (3th. world most important disease). This work was carried out for established the prevalence, isolation, identification and characterization of fields isolates of Eimeria spp., with especial attention to E. zuernii, describing the pathology of the disease by experimental infection of a susceptible bovine. A total of 636 faecal samples of bovine were processing from 10 Venezuela's states and also 1.509 faecal samples of Guarico state respective; obtaining a prevalence of 53,6% in the 10 studied states and 40,5% in Guarico state. Morphological, morphometrics and structural characterization of the isolate of E. zuernii were similar to described in the literature.