[Coccidia and coccidiosis in the rock partridge, Alectoris graeca cypriates. I. Coccidian species, systematics and morphological characteristics and the seasonal and age-related dynamics].

A total of 6,375 samples were taken from rock partridges of the Alektoris graeca cypriates species. Coccidia were found in 1,437 of them. In forty-three per cent of the cases the parasites belonged to Eimeria kofoidi, in 29.2 per cent--to E. procera, in 12 per cent--to E. cotornicis, in 6.9 per cent--to E. phasiani, and in 9.7 per cent--to E. tenella. Most often a mixed infection of several species was established. Most pathogenic and most widely occurring proved the E. kofoidi species. Highest per cent of infection and greatest parasite burden were found in the young birds up to two months of age, chiefly in the spring and summer seasons, (May-June). Most susceptible to the infection were those aged 14 days to 2 months. The carriers of coccidia among the adult specimens constituted 4 to 6 per cent, and during the spring these became more numerous--up to 35 per cent. This makes it reasonable to believe that improper hygiene in rock partridge breeding could bring about mass coccidia infection and thus interfere with the reproduction process.