Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Alpaca health · Parasites

Coccidiosis in Alpacas

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team6 peer-reviewed references
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Urgent — contact your vet today

Early treatment makes a big difference. Don't wait more than a day.

An intestinal infection by single-celled Eimeria parasites that damages the gut lining. It mainly affects crias and stressed animals; Eimeria macusaniensis can be serious even in adults.

Category
Parasites
Urgency
Urgent
Also called
Eimeria, E. mac

Signs & symptoms

  • Diarrhea (may be absent with E. macusaniensis)
  • Weight loss or poor growth in crias
  • Dull, lethargic, off feed
  • Colic or straining
  • Dehydration and collapse in severe cases

Related symptom guides: Alpaca Diarrhea (Loose Stool), Constipation & Straining, Cria Not Gaining Weight.

What causes it?

Camelids carry several host-specific Eimeria species (E. lamae, E. alpacae, E. punoensis, E. ivitaensis and E. macusaniensis). Oocysts in feces become infective in the environment and are swallowed from contaminated bedding, feeders and water.

Risk factors

  • Crias 1-6 months old, weaning stress
  • Crowded, wet or dirty pens
  • Feed and water contaminated with feces
  • Transport and new-herd stress

How vets diagnose it

Fecal flotation. E. macusaniensis oocysts are large and heavy and need a sugar flotation or sedimentation technique; they may be shed only after the animal is already sick.

Treatment

Coccidiostats or anticoccidial drugs prescribed by your vet, plus fluids and supportive care for dehydrated animals. Treat in-contact crias as directed.

Do not wait to see if it improves. Camelids hide illness, and by the time signs are obvious the problem is often advanced. Call your veterinarian.

Prevention

  • Keep feeders and water off the ground and free of manure
  • Clean and dry cria areas; avoid crowding
  • Minimize weaning and transport stress
  • Monitor crias' weights weekly

Background

Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease of the intestinal tract of animals caused by coccidian protozoa. The disease spreads from one animal to another by contact with infected feces or ingestion of infected tissue. Diarrhea, which may become bloody in severe cases, is the primary symptom. Most animals infected with coccidia are asymptomatic, but young or immunocompromised animals may suffer severe symptoms and death.From Wikipedia — “Coccidiosis”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Research & references

PubMed lists 114 peer-reviewed papers on this topic in camelids. The most relevant include:

  1. A review of coccidiosis in South American camelids. Dubey JP Parasitology research, 2018. PubMed 29804192 · DOI · Free full textOpen access · cited 24×
  2. New paleoparasitological investigations from the pre-inca to hispanic contact period in northern Chile. de Souza MV, da Silva LGR, Silva-Pinto V et al. Acta tropica, 2018. PubMed 29191518 · DOI · cited 5×
  3. Eimeria infections in domestic and wild ruminants with reference to control options in domestic ruminants. Bangoura B, Bhuiya MAI, Kilpatrick M Parasitology research, 2022. PubMed 35680677 · DOI · cited 24×
  4. First molecular detection of Neospora caninum from naturally infected slaughtered camels in Tunisia. Amdouni Y, Abedennebi I, Amairia S et al. Veterinary medicine and science, 2022. PubMed 35971897 · DOI · Free full textOpen access · cited 3×
  5. New parasitological findings for pre-Hispanic camelids. Taglioretti V, Fugassa MH, Rindel D et al. Parasitology, 2017. PubMed 28679457 · DOI · cited 7×
  6. Parasitic diversity found in coprolites of camelids during the Holocene. Taglioretti V, Fugassa MH, Sardella NH Parasitology research, 2015. PubMed 25859925 · DOI · cited 11×

Frequently asked questions

What is coccidiosis in alpacas?
An intestinal infection by single-celled Eimeria parasites that damages the gut lining. It mainly affects crias and stressed animals; Eimeria macusaniensis can be serious even in adults.
What are the signs of coccidiosis?
Diarrhea (may be absent with e. macusaniensis), weight loss or poor growth in crias, dull, lethargic, off feed, colic or straining and dehydration and collapse in severe cases.
How do you prevent coccidiosis?
Keep feeders and water off the ground and free of manure. Clean and dry cria areas; avoid crowding. Minimize weaning and transport stress.
Is coccidiosis an emergency?
Urgent — contact your vet today. Early treatment makes a big difference. Don't wait more than a day.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.