What is "coccidiosis"

coccidiosis \coccidiosis\ n. (Med.) any of a group of infectious diseases caused by protozoan parasites (coccidia) of the order Coccidia, which infect the intestines of birds, dogs, and other vertebrates.

Modern Latin, from Greek *kokkidion, diminutive of kokkis, diminutive of kokkos "berry" + -osis.

n. The disease caused by coccidian infection.

n. (veterinary medicine) infestation with coccidia

Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease of the intestinal tract of animals caused by coccidian protozoa. The disease spreads from one animal to another by contact with infected feces or ingestion of infected tissue. Diarrhea, which may become bloody in severe cases, is the primary symptom. Most animals infected with coccidia are asymptomatic, but young or immunocompromised animals may suffer severe symptoms and death.

While coccidia can infect a wide variety of animals, including humans, birds, and livestock, they are usually species-specific. One well-known exception is toxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii.

Humans may first encounter coccidia when they acquire a young puppy or kitten that is infected. Other than T. gondii, the infectious organisms are canine and feline-specific and are not contagious to humans, unlike the zoonotic diseases.