Coccidiosis in Poultry: A Deep Dive into Prevention and Control

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1. Introduction: 

Coccidiosis is a protozoal infection that is caused by different protozoans belonging to the Eimeria genus. It is arguably the most important disease to the poultry industry, and its economic impact is huge. Unlike a viral infection, coccidiosis infects the lining of the intestine, resulting in malabsorption, poor feed conversion, and even death from bloody diarrhea

Coccidosis in poultry

3. Life Cycle of Eimeria

To understand the life cycle is essential to control it. Eimeria has an Exogenous Phase Outside the Bird and an Endogenous Phase Inside the Bird.

Sporulation (Environmental Phase): 

The life cycle of Eimeria begins when an infected bird sheds unsporulated oocysts with feces. These need specific conditions to sporulate. These are warmth (25-30°C), moisture (humidity of litter >25%), and oxygen. After 24 to 48 hours, they are now infectious. The most important factor is the litter. Wet litter is the biggest enemy in the poultry house.

Ingestion and Excystation: 

Healthy birds pick up these sporulated oocysts with litter. These are released in the muscular gizzard, where they excyst.

Invasion of Intestine: 

These sporozoites invade the cells of the intestinal wall. Here, they have several cycles of asexual reproduction. This is known as Schizogony. During this process, they cause tissue destruction and bleeding.

Sexual Reproduction: 

Finally, they have sexual reproduction, also known as Gametogony. Here, they produce more oocysts, which are shed with feces.

Life cycle of coccidosis in poultry


3. Clinical Signs: How to Identify Coccidiosis

Depending on the Coccidium species, the symptoms will vary. These are some of the symptoms for Eimeria tenella and Eimeria necatrix infections:

.Bloody Droppings

.Huddled Birds

.Depressed birds with ruffled feathers, near heat sources

.Pale Combs

.Drop in Feed Intake

4. Post-Mortem Findings (Lesions)

As a DVM professional, it is essential to know what to look for inside the bird to make an accurate diagnosis. These are some of the post-mortem findings for an Eimeria tenella infection:

Cecal Core

Presence of distended cecca with clotted blood or cheesy cores

Presence of thickening in the mid-intestine with pinpoint white or red spots

5. Management and Treatment

Once an outbreak is confirmed, immediate management is necessary. These are some of the management and treatment procedures to be followed:

Anticoccidials

Use of Amprolium, Toltrazuril, or even Sulpha drugs in the bird's water

Litter Management: The First Line of Defense

Because Eimeria spends half its life in the litter, the floor conditions are much more important than any medicine.

Moisture Control (The 25% Rule): 

The ideal moisture content is 20% to 25%. If you can squeeze the handful of litter and it holds its shape in a ball, then the litter is too wet. Too much moisture allows the oocysts to sporulate quickly.

Drinker Management: 

Leaking nipples and/or bell drinkers are the most common source of "wet spots." Make sure drinkers are set to the proper height (should be at the back of the bird) and fix the problem immediately to avoid localized coccidiosis epidemics.

Ventilation: 

Good ventilation is vital to remove the ammonia and moisture from the house. Even in the winter, the ventilation rate must be maintained to keep the litter dry.

Litter Raking:

Rake the litter regularly to avoid "caking" (a hard, crusty top layer). Caked litter traps the moisture, creating an ideal incubator for Eimeria.

Stocking Density: 

Too many birds per square footage cause the manure and moisture to accumulate faster. Be sure to follow the recommended square footage per bird to ensure the litter "breathes" properly.

Use of Lime: 

In some cases, adding a little lime to the wet areas can help to dry the areas somewhat and make the pH less conducive to Eimeria oocysts.

​Vitamin K: 

Always give Vitamin K supplements during treatment to stop internal bleeding.

​Coccidiostats in Feed: 

Use of chemicals in the feed to maintain a low parasite level

Conclusion:

Coccidiosis is not something that is cured with an injection or an anti-coccidial drug in one feed. Coccidiosis is something that must be managed with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy. As a DVM professional or poultry producer, the paradigm must shift from "Treatment" to "Prevention." With good-quality anti-coccidials in the feed, along with bone-dry litter and good ventilation, we must reduce the oocyst load in the shed. Remember, every bird that is afflicted with Coccidiosis, even if it survives, will have scarring in the intestines and will have an adverse effect on the FCR and profitability of your poultry farm.


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