The current study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of Eimeria species among 75 diarrheic calves in Assiut Governorate. Oocysts of Eimeria spp. were found in 46.7% (35/75) of the examined fecal samples from diarrheic calves using light microscope and 88% (22/25) by using PCR. Very high significant difference of Eimeria infection was recorded in calves 3-6 months of age, 73.3% (22/30) and 1 week-3 months of age 28.9% (13/45). The prevalence of Eimeria spp. in calves with diarrhea showed the highest rate in summer (69.2%), followed by winter (36.4%), autumn (25%) and spring (7.7%). Eight species of Eimeria were isolated by parasitological examination. The prevalence of Eimeria spp. was E. zuernii (51.4%) followed by E. bovis (31.4%), E. alabamensis (31.4%), E. cylindrica (25.7%), E. subspherica (14.3%), E. canadensis (11.4%), E. ellipsoidalis (5.7%) and E. auburnensis (2.9%). Single infection of Eimeria spp. was found in 48.6% of the infected calves, whereas mixed infection involved two, three or four Eimeria spp. was observed in 51.4% of the infected calves. In conclusion, season and age of the calves were the most significant aspects connected with the possibility of infection with coccidiosis The PCR is a more reliable, sensitive and less time-consuming approach for diagnosis of Eimeria.

heileria equi is a tick-borne hemoprotozoan parasite and one of the causative agents of equine piroplasmosis. Data on T. equi infection in donkeys are scarce in Assiut governorate, Egypt. This study was conducted on the prevalence of T. equi infection in donkeys by using micropscopic examination and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Out of 50 donkeys, blood samples examined for T. equi, 14% (7/50) were positive by microscopic examination and 38% (19/50) by PCR. Prevalence of T. equi had high significant differences between microscopic examination and PCR assay. Prevalence of T. equi in male donkeys was 13.6% (3/22) by microscopic examination and 36.4% (8/22) by PCR. In female donkeys it was 14.3% (4/28) by microscopic examination and 39.3% (11/28) by PCR. No significant difference between the prevalence rate of infection in males and females were recorded. Microscopic examination of donkeys' blood smears stained with Giemsa stain revealed forms of theilerial schizogony in lymphocytes (Kochs blue bodies) and intra-erythrocytic relatively small, less than 2 μm long pear-shaped and ring shaped merozoites of T. equi. The B1 gene specified for T. equi was detected by PCR in 19 blood samples. All positive samples with microscopic examination were also positive with PCR. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of PCR with respect to blood film examination were 61.3%, 100% and 82%, respectively. So, PCR was found to be more sensitive, specific and accurate than blood film examination.The present results suggest that T. equi parasite is widely spread in Assiut governorate due to high exposure to ticks.

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