CONTROL PROGRAM OF SHEEP COCCIDIOSIS IN THE PRODUCTION CHAIN ​​FROM THE BREEDER TO THE CONSUMER

• DOI: 10.37572/EdArt_3107255984

• Palavras-chave: coccidiosis control, sheep health, Eimeria infection, Toltrazuril treatment, parasitic disease management

• Keywords: coccidiosis control, sheep health, Eimeria infection, Toltrazuril treatment, parasitic disease management

• Abstract:

  Sheep farming holds significant economic and cultural value in Serbia, with increasing attention given to improving health and production outcomes. Among the challenges faced in sheep husbandry, parasitic diseases—especially protozoan infections like coccidiosis caused by Eimeria and Cryptosporidium species—are prevalent and economically detrimental, particularly in young lambs. This study presents a comprehensive, multi-year control program for ovine coccidiosis, implemented across nine farms from 2014 to 2018. The program combined systematic parasitological monitoring, targeted therapeutic interventions (notably the use of Toltrazuril), and the application of biosecurity, zootechnical, and prophylactic measures in both pens and pastures. Initial diagnostics showed a high prevalence of subclinical and clinical infections, with lambs being the most affected group. Through successive parasitological examinations and treatments, a significant reduction in oocyst shedding and clinical cases was achieved. By fostering natural immunity through controlled subclinical exposure and timing of therapeutic intervention, the program effectively transformed coccidiosis from an acute production-limiting disease to a managed endemic condition. The study highlights the importance of integrated, farm-specific health strategies and underscores the role of veterinarians in implementing sustainable parasite control measures in sheep flocks in Serbia.