Letter to the editor

Abstract

Extract

Sir, — Recently a faecal sample from an 8-month-old calf from the Taranaki district was found to contain a large number of coccidial oocysts (960 000 oocysts per gram). After sporulation in a 2.5% potassium dichromate solution and concentration by sugar flotation, these were identified as being predominantly Eimeria zurnii. A small number of yell0wish-brown oocysts distinguished by their thick radially-striated walls, obvious micropyle and absence of any oocyst or sporocyst residual body, were also present. These latter oocysts, which were of a pyrifonn shape and measured 38µ long and 30µ wide (mean of 10), were identified, according to the description of Joyner et al. (196) as being Eimeria bukidnonensis, a coccidian species previously unrecorded in New Zealand cattle.