12/10/2023
๐ฒ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฆโ๏ธโ๏ธ
โช๐ข๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ก๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ๐:- Avian Coccidiosis ๐
Coccidiosis is the clinical illness caused by infection with the protozoan parasite genus ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ (๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ).
Most of these parasites invade the chickenโs intestinal tract, but some invade other organs, such as the liver and kidney.
Chickens become infected by ingesting sporulated oocysts (coccidia "eggs") from the surrounding environment.
โช๏ธWhen chickens are exposed to Eimeria early on, as long as there are not excessive levels present in the environment, they will usually develop a natural immunity, without any treatment necessary. However, if their immune system is lowered due to infection with another disease, stress, or exposure to a new species of Eimeria, they may develop coccidiosis. Large numbers of Eimeria cause damage to the bird's intestinal lining, resulting in leakage of proteins, including plasma into the bowel. This causes a disruption of digestive processes or nutrient absorption, dehydration, anemia, and increased susceptibility to other disease agents.
โญ๐๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฆ๐ถ๐ด๐ป๐
One of the first signs of coccidiosis is
โช reduced feed and water consumption,
โช resulting in slower growth.
โชThe bird will be less active and often goes off on their own and appears hunched up with ruffled feathers.
โชOther signs include a change in the appearance of their droppings, which may be runny and an off-color, or tinged with blood.
๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ด๐ป๐ผ๐๐ถ๐๐งช
Coccidiosis is diagnosed in chickens through a f***l test on the chicken's droppings. Eimeria eggs can be identified when the f***s is looked at with a microscope. A Complete Blood Count (CBC) may show decreased red blood cell and total protein level counts in affected birds.
๐ง๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐
Treatment of coccidiosis involves several important components:
๐๐บ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐:- . It is initially important to control the coccidia with an anticoccidial agent such as amprolium or toltrazuril, in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations.
๐๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐:- It is important to control secondary bacterial growth by concurrently administering antimicrobials such as tylosin or amoxicillin. When coccidiosis damages the intestinal wall, it leaves the bird more at risk of developing secondary โ๏ธโ๏ธ
