coccidia from cats --> new chicks

[sharol]

I am fostering 3 kittens (since Tuesday). Their feces just tested positive for coccidia (and, of course, round worms). A search of the archives here came up with lots of conflicting information about cross species contamination.

Can my new chicks (arriving in 4-5 days) become infected by the coccidia that the kittens have? They will be in different quarters of course, but could I have contaminated the brooder when I was setting it up? I probably didn't wash my hands or change clothes after handling the kittens. Some sources indicated that coccidia are species specific and some indicate cross-species contamination. Does anyone have a definitive answer?

If it is a risk, what do I need to do to ensure that my new girls won't come in contact with the contaminants? The vet says to use 1 C. of Clorox to a gallon of water and wash down the pen the kittens are in once they go back to their original foster family on Saturday. What about the rest of the room -- same room the chicks will be using, but neither kittens nor chicks are free to roam. Both confined, but in different pens.

I posted this first in the emergency/illness area, but I didn't get a response. Hoping for more input here.

 

[sourland]

Most coccidia are species specific, and I don't think you have a problem. That being said, I would put the chicks on a medicated chick starter and sleep comfortably at night.

 

[JLS]

Quote:
I agree.

 

[MMPoultryFarms]

Use a medicated chick starter. I would Also buy some Corid for the water You can even give it to the cats so I hear But check with your vet to make Sure. I would also ask your vet if he has any Rocal D plus you just need a cap full per water spray bottle and can probably dilute that twice. It will kill any thing that one might fear. Bleach is a substitute And works Miracles. Concentrated lysol is Good. Also remember when feeding a chick medicated starter offer them clumps of Dirt as this helps them build there immunity to Coccidiosis. (if there invornment is clean this means No Cocci So you must introduce "not clean" to them or your medicating for nothing if that makes any sense.)

 

[SkyWarrior]

One thing to be careful of is not overdoing the Amprolium. Many medicated feeds use that and warn that it should be the only source of amprol. But yes, put the chicks on medicated feed.

And you already know my answer about the coccidia from our emails. Cat coccidia is species specific, but to make sure, use lysol to clean up. THe coccidia can reinfect the kittens too.

 

[sharol]

Thanks for all the good suggestions. The kittens are going home this afternoon (Saturday), and their rescuer is going to treat them for the Coccidia. I have Corid and medicated feed for them (not at the same time) already, and I'll intro some dirt to help them build immunity. I'll check on the Rocal-D.

The kittens are in a pen in the garage, so I'll disinfect the pen and the floor where they were staying. My vet says that there will probably be no problem with my animals since they haven't had anything to do with the kittens (except for the one mouthful the dachsund got when he rather gently "tasted" one -- I'll have to test his poop in a week or two), and no one has been eating the kitten poo (dogs are really disgusting sometimes, aren't they?). He tells me that the infection is usually transferred through "ingested body waste" to quote him.

 

[MMPoultryFarms]

Quote:
Vet is correct However cocci can lay dorment for years apon years I once read it can lay dorment in dirt for hundreds of years don't quote me on that. Thus why dirt is important.