Coccidiosis in Goats
A deadly infection in goat kids.
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Diarrhea. Scours. The enemy of the healthy kid goat. Chances are, if you’ve been raising goats for any period of time, you already have a procedure in place for treating scours in your goat kids. Scours can have a multitude of causes, and thus treatment is often not one-size-fits-all. Knowing the cause of the scours is often necessary to achieve treatment success. One of the most common causes of scours in goat kids is coccidia.
What is Coccidiosis?
Coccidiosis is an infection with the coccidia protozoa. There are 17 species of coccidia, though only five are known to cause disease in goats. These different species affect various parts of the goat’s gastrointestinal tract. The severity of clinical signs in goats depends on the type of coccidia and the area of the intestinal tract it affects. Coccidia live in the intestinal tract of goats and replicate, producing oocysts in 2-4 weeks that are passed in the feces. These oocysts become infective sporocysts within a few days in optimal environmental conditions. Ingestion of infective sporocysts leads to infection within goats. The oocyst can survive in cold weather, although it delays sporulation.
Adult goats carry coccidia without clinical disease or shedding, as they develop some immunity to the infection. Around kidding, however, does can have an increase in shedding of oocysts, known as the peri-parturient rise. This increases the risk of infection in kids with the protozoa. Kids generally show signs of infection when they’re greater than 1 month of age. Depending on stressors and exposure, kids can exhibit varying signs. Mildly affected kids can have decreased weight gain and be less thrifty than unaffected kids. Severely affected kids can have severe scours and show a rapid progression to weakness and even death. Severity of infection depends on a multitude of factors, including the animal’s stress level, the degree of exposure, and the type of coccidia.
Diagnosing Coccidiosis
Diagnosis of coccidiosis should not be made based on clinical signs alone. However, even the presence of oocysts in the feces is not a definitive diagnosis that coccidiosis is the cause of diarrhea. When facing a scours outbreak, it’s recommended to assess the feces of both healthy and diseased animals. Whenever possible, the coccidia found in feces should also be speciated to assess for a pathogenic species of coccidia. Coccidia can also be confirmed on post-mortem examination of the intestinal tract. Diarrhea in kids can have many different causes, such as viral infections, Salmonella, and parasites like helminths and cryptosporidium. Fecal flotations, fecal cultures, and PCR tests can be used to determine the ultimate cause of diarrhea.
Treatment
Animals showing scours should be quarantined away from the rest of the herd as soon as possible. Supportive care, such as electrolytes, should be administered to prevent dehydration. Once coccidia has been identified as the cause of diarrhea, treatment can be determined. Only a few products are available that are labeled for use in goats.
Decoquinate, also known as Deccox, is a coccidiostat. It’s a medication that reduces the growth of protozoa and is labeled for goats. This can be used in problem herds and helps reduce exposure if administered 1 to 2 months prior to times of risk.
Amprolium, also known as Corid, is a coccidiostat that has been used off-label in goats. This medication can result in thiamine deficiency, and supplementation with thiamine may be necessary. Some resistance to this medication has also been noted.
Sulfadimethoxine, trade name Albon, and sulfamethazine can be used as treatment early in the course of the disease. These medications are antibiotics that reduce secondary bacterial infections and also decrease oocyst shedding in the environment. These aren’t labeled for use in goats and require a veterinary prescription.
Diclazuril and toltrazuril are antiprotozoal drugs that can be used for both treatment and prevention; however, they aren’t approved for use in goats in the United States.
Prevention
Prevention of coccidia involves reducing contamination risks in the most at-risk individuals. As adults develop some immunity to the disease, those primarily affected are young, growing animals. Those undergoing stress of any kind, who have reduced immune capacity, are further susceptible to the disease.
- Strategic management of pastures or pens for growing kids is then essential to reduce the risk of coccidiosis.
- Elevate feed and water buckets to keep them free from fecal contamination.
- Move animals in grazing pastures to keep kids eating in tall grasses and prevent grazing among feces.
- Keep weaned kids separate from does to prevent heavy exposure to coccidia until their immunity is more developed.
- Don’t overcrowd pens. Instead, group in small bunches according to age.
If coccidia has been diagnosed within your herd, using coccidiostats, such as Deccox, can help prevent the disease. However, this medication works best when begun prior to the time of risk. Beginning the medication prior to weaning — and the heaviest stress and exposure times — will ensure maximum efficacy and reduce clinical disease.
Coccidiosis is a condition that can result in severe illness, as well as production loss due to chronic illness. Careful management can greatly reduce the risk of illness. Utilizing diagnostics when kids are suffering from scours can ensure that appropriate treatment is pursued in a timely fashion. If coccidia is confirmed as a cause of illness, preventative measures for the future can be implemented.
DR. KATIE ESTILL DVM is a veterinarian consultant for Goat Journal and Countryside & Small Stock Journal. She works with goats and other large livestock at Desert Trails Veterinary Services in Winnemucca, Nevada.
Originally published in the July 1, 2025 digital issue of Goat Journal.
