Coccidiosis

• It is a protozoanal disease which effect the intestinal tract when they are 3 to 9 week of age, characterized by haemorrhagic enteritis with warm , humid weather.

Important coccidia of poultry are:

Eimeria tenella,Eimeria necatrix, Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria mitis, Eimeria brunetti, Eimeria hagani, Eimeria maxima, Eimeria mivati, Eimeria praecox,Cryptospordium tyzzrere, Wenyonella gallinae

• Incubation period : 4-7days

Symptoms

• Sudden onset of bloody diarrhea,
• Fever followed by dehydration, emaciation and death are the important signs of coccidiosis
• Listless and ruffled feather
• Feed and water intake are reduced with failure to gain weight
• The comb and wattles become pale
• Huddle to keep warm
• Solid vent tail and feathers
• Death generally occurs on fifth to seventh day of infection
• High rate of mortality
• Loss of egg production
• It is necessary to keep the young and adult stock separately and take care in cleanliness
• Overcrowding should be avoided
• Proper management with balance diet should be given
• The litter must be kept loose and dry

For prevention of coccidiosis in poultry it is better to give

• Bifurans (KK&F) at a concentration of 0.0063 % in food
• Sodium suladimidine is given at concentration of 0.2 % in drinking water
• Sodium sulphaquinoxaline is given in feed @ 0.5 %