भाषा:
By Dr. Ibne Ali, IMN PyrophosUpdated October 20266 min read
Coccidiosis - Major Threat in Deep Litter Poultry Farming

More is probably known about the nutrition of poultry than any other animal. Research determining requirements for chickens has been conducted for over half a century, and numerous publications and books have been written on the topic. Furthermore, the industry has nutritional-management guidelines from genetic-breeding companies that provide important nutrient values aimed at maximizing growth performance.

These values are usually based on findings in birds reared in optimal conditions that enable them to reach their peak potential. Many nutritionists formulate diets to meet the bird’s requirements without exceeding them, particularly the protein/amino acid levels. Producers are trying to maximize profit and bird growth as well as limiting the nutrients being excreted.

What happens, however, when birds are faced with intestinal distress, such as that caused by coccidiosis — a significant parasitic intestinal attack that’s considered by many broiler veterinarians to be the No.1 disease of poultry?

The parasites responsible for coccidiosis in poultry belong to the family of the Eimeriidae, all obligate intracellular parasitic protozoa.

In excess of 72 billion chickens are produced in the world each year, all of which are immunologically naïve to challenge by Eimeria species parasites at the time of hatch. In the absence of effective control many chickens will become infected with Eimeria and some will suffer clinical disease, called coccidiosis.

The global cost attributed to Eimeria has been estimated to exceed $10 billion every year, including losses attributed to subclinical and clinical disease, as well as the costs of anticoccidial control. Mortality caused by coccidiosis can be significant, but the greatest impact is commonly due to compromised performance in terms of body weight gain, food conversion ratio and flock homogeneity.

Nine species of Eimeria have been described from chickens. New evidence suggests that all should be considered valid. Concurrent infection with 2 or more species of coccidia is common. Each species causes separate and distinct, recognizable diseases, independent of the other species. A number of factors, either related to the parasites or the host, will affect this life cycle. Depending on the Eimeria species, these parasites will colonize specific regions of the intestinal tract, at a depth varying with the species considered. at a depth varying with the species considered. The period between the ingestion of the sporulated oocysts and the release in the feces of the first unsporulated oocysts, also called prepatent period, is specific for each Eimeria species. Likewise, the period required for the sporulation of oocysts is also species specific. These two elements can be used as an aid to the identification of the Eimeria species involved.

Nine species of Eimeria have been described in chickens: E. acervulina, E. necatrix, E. maxima, E. brunetti, E. tenella. E. mitis,E. mivati,E. praecox and E. hagani. Clinical disease is determined by the species of the infecting coccidia.

Remipro IMN Pyrophos

Gut health · bestseller

Remipro

Probiotics, prebiotics (MOS) and Saccharomyces with betaine, methionine and vitamin C. Restores normal gut flora, reduces loose droppings, improves digestion and FCR, helps in coccidiosis recovery and corrects brown/coffee coloured droppings.

Dose: 1 g per 8 kg body weight or 1 g per litre of water for routine gut health; 1 g per 5 kg body weight or 2 g per litre during loose droppings and infections; 1 g per 100 chicks in brooding.

500 g ₹626MRP ₹950

Moderately severe pathogen causing enteritis in the duodenum region, but when severe, the lesions will extend to the jejunum. The enteritis can be mild to severe and cause thickening of the mucosa. May affect skin pigmentation due to malabsorption of carotenoids and reduce feed conversion. Transverse white to gray striations are visible in the mucosa, these are Typical ladder-like white steaks along the duodenum. This location is also favored by other less pathogenic species i.e. frequently multiple species will be present, obscuring the diagnosis. This type of coccidiosis occurs rather frequently in older birds. This species is one of the most prevalent in commercial poultry operations. The thickening of the intestinal mucosa observed is due to the aggregation of gametocytes and oocysts. It mainly causes malabsorptive coccidiosis, rarely results in mortality unless the level of challenge is overwhelming.

Eimeria maxima is moderately pathogenic and may cause moderately high mortality. It causes mild to severe enteritis sometimes with thickening of the intestinal wall and marked dilatation of the the middle small intestine, these resemble E. necatrix, but the lesions of E. maxima are bright red (Fig. 6). Intestinal content may be bloody. Very large oocysts (30.5 x 20.7 microns), often with a golden color and large gamonts are diagnostic for this species. Subclinical infections may impede absorption and result in poor skin pigmentation. This species is very prevalent in commercial poultry operations.

Eimeria brunetti causes enteritis in the lower small intestine, rectum and proximal cecum. In severe cases, a fibrinous or fibrinonecrotic mass of debris may cover the affected mucosa or produce caseous cores in the ileum and rectum. These oocysts are fairly large, each with a polar granule. E. brunetti is a moderately severe pathogen that can produce moderate mortality, loss of weight gain, and poor feed conversion.

Septima IMN Pyrophos

Loose droppings · bestseller

Septima

Anti-diarrhoeal combination with herbal bioenhancers in a dextrose base. Corrects loose droppings and is helpful in sudden mortality from intestinal Salmonella and E. coli, in early chick mortality, and against coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis.

Dose: 1 g per 6 kg body weight or 1 g per litre for moderate cases; 1 g per 4–5 kg body weight or 2 g per litre in high mortality. In E. coli infection, use after the antibiotic course. Do not mix with other drugs, sanitizers or acidifiers.

500 g ₹793MRP ₹1,300

Eimeria necatrix causes severe enteritis characterized by congestion, hemorrhage, necrosis and blood in the middle small intestine with bloody feces. The intestine often is markedly dilated, inflamed and thickened. White to yellow foci and petechial hemorrhages may be seen through the serosa of the unopened gut; these lesions are the development of the large schizonts predominantly in the mid small intestines. This species is often mistaken or confused with E. maxima; the lesions with E. necatrix have the appearance of salt ands pepper (dark red). Oocysts develop only in the ceca, and the oocysts may not be numerous; moreover, mortality may precede the appearance of oocysts in the feces. Often causes high mortality. Often causes disease in commercial broiler breeders or layer pullets.

Eimeria tenella is highly pathogenic, causes a marked typhlitis with occasional involvement of the adjacent areas of the intestine. Blood is often apparent in the ceca and feces in the early stages of the infections; later, cheesy cecal cores may be found. Large clusters of schizonts may be seen in microscopic scrapings of the ceca. E. tenella can cause high morbidity, mortality and reduced weight gain in commercial broilers or layer pullets. This species is commonly found in commercial poultry.

For treatment Septima and Remipro at the dose rate of 1g per 5kg body weight are given in different water which would helps in controlling coccidiosis.

Problem in your flock? Send photos of the birds and droppings on WhatsApp for a first opinion from Dr. Ibne Ali.

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