Effects of saturated sodium chloride solution on coccidial oocysts

SummaryUsing the ability to sporulate as a measure of viability, the effects of exposure of unsporulated oocysts of 10 species of coccidia of chickens, rabbits and cattle to saturated NaCl solution has been studied. Although appreciable deformation and collapse of the oocyst occurred after 1–2 days contact, the effect was reversible after washing free from salt and incubating. Some reduction in ability to sporulate following several days contact with saturated salt was noted in most species, although no effect was seen with Eimeria stiedai following 7 days exposure, Eimeria tenella was one of the more sensitive species studied. Culture titration experiments in chickens with E. tenella indicated that oocysts which had sporulated following prolonged exposure to salt were in no way inferior in virulence or ability to retain virulence on prolonged storage to oocysts prepared with minimal contact with salt. No evidence was obtained to contra-indicate the use of salt-flotation methods for the separation of oocysts from faeces.