Coccidiosis in dogs—100 years of progress

Authors: Dubey, Jitender; LINDSAY, DAVID - Virginia-Maryland Regional College Of Veterinary Medicine (VMRCVM)

Submitted to: Veterinary Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/4/2018
Publication Date: 2/1/2019
Citation: Dubey, J.P., Lindsay, D. 2019. Coccidiosis in dogs—100 years of progress . Veterinary Parasitology. 266:34-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.12.004.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.12.004

Interpretive Summary: Toxoplasma, Neospora, Sarcocystis, and Cystoisopora are related coccidian parasites that cause severe illness in livestock and companion animals. Oocyst is the environmentally resistant stage passed in feces of the definitive hosts. While Toxoplasma and Neospora have wide host range, Cystoisospora are more host specific. In this paper authors review importance of coccidiosis in dogs. These results will be of interest to parasitologists and veterinarians in diagnosis of coccidiosis in dogs

Technical Abstract: Until 1970, coccidian parasites of dogs were considered to have a direct fecal-oral life cycle like Eimeria in poultry. They were thought to be non-host specific and infect both dogs and cats. Studies conducted in the 1970s revealed that dog coccidia were host-specific and had transport or paratenic hosts that were infected with an encysted stage containing a single organism, the monozoic tissue cyst. There are still considerable confusion and uncertainties concerning the life cycles and pathogenicity of coccidian parasites of dogs. The present paper reviews the history, taxonomy, life cycles, pathogenicity, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of conventional coccidian parasites previously called Isospora spp., currently designated Cystoisospora spp. that infect canines.