Vetdle Archive Case #114: Bovine Coccidiosis

Clinical Clues

Young calves in a crowded group develop diarrhea and uneven growth.
The outbreak follows recent weaning and housing stress.
Some calves strain and pass feces with mucus and blood.
Affected calves are tucked up but many remain standing.
Fecal testing shows a heavy burden of protozoal oocysts.
Bovine coccidiosis commonly causes tenesmus, bloody diarrhea, and reduced performance in young calves.

Diagnosis

Bovine Coccidiosis

This case is most consistent with Bovine Coccidiosis because the calves have tenesmus, diarrhoea, and a typical age and housing pattern with supportive fecal results. The most important clues are the blood-tinged feces and weaned calf group, which make dietary upset less likely.

Learning review

Review the case evidence

Use the paired clues to explain how the evidence in this cattle case supports the provided diagnosis, Bovine Coccidiosis, then compare your reasoning with the case explanation.

Evidence checkpoints

Clues 1-2

Clue 1: Young calves in a crowded group develop diarrhea and uneven growth.
Clue 2: The outbreak follows recent weaning and housing stress.

Clues 3-4

Clue 3: Some calves strain and pass feces with mucus and blood.
Clue 4: Affected calves are tucked up but many remain standing.

Clues 5-6

Clue 5: Fecal testing shows a heavy burden of protozoal oocysts.
Clue 6: Bovine coccidiosis commonly causes tenesmus, bloody diarrhea, and reduced performance in young calves.

Self-review prompts

After clues 1-2, what evidence from this cattle case shaped your initial interpretation?
When you compare clues 3-4 with clues 1-2, what changed in your reasoning about Bovine Coccidiosis?
How do clues 5-6 align with the case explanation for Bovine Coccidiosis?

Educational Use

Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.