Coccidiosis is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Eimeria. These parasites are host-specific, and many species occupy specific sections of the intestine. Coccidiosis is probably one of the most common diseases affecting small groups around the world, leading to loss of performance and even mortality. Vaccination, preventive medication and good management practices can help control the disease.
What is chicken coccidiosis?
Coccidiosis is a common and sometimes fatal intestinal disease caused by parasites that attach to the intestinal wall of chickens. This parasitic invasion can damage the intestine and prevent the host chicken from absorbing nutrients that are essential for its survival.
Coccidiosis begins with oocysts, or tiny eggs, passing through chicken feces. The oocysts can hibernate in the soil for up to a year and will not be infectious (spores) until the surrounding conditions support their survival. Young chickens (under six months old) are at greater risk of infection because they have not had time to develop their natural immunity, but adult chickens will also be affected.
Symptoms of coccidiosis
Coccidiosis develops rapidly, with an incubation period of 4 to 8 days. Symptoms may develop gradually or appear suddenly. It is not uncommon for chickens to look good one day and become seriously ill the next day, or even die.
The most common symptom of the disease is blood or mucus in chicken feces. However, red chicken manure is not always an indicator of coccidiosis. Chicken manure may also appear brown-red due to the normal shedding of cecal cells. The only way to know if the feces show infected chickens is to have the veterinarian test the feces.
Other symptoms of coccidiosis include:
- Bloody or watery diarrhea
- Drowsiness
- Loss of appetite
- Pale cockscomb
- Drooping posture and wings
- Feathers wrinkled or puffed
- Sagging, dim or glazed eyes
- Poor growth of chicks
- Death
Reasons for Chicken Coccidia Infection
Coccidiosis occurs worldwide. It is especially common in high-density flocks of chickens and flocks where animals are in direct contact with feces. Almost every flock of poultry raised on litter is affected by coccidiosis to a certain extent. chickens like to peck on the floor, and in doing so, they ingest oocytes (parasite eggs) present in the feces of infected chickens. Flocks of chickens in the backyard usually do not provide enough bedding in the chicken coop. The more animals come into contact with fecal matter, the greater their chance of developing severe coccidiosis.
Coccidiosis is caused by parasites (coccidiomycosis) found on contaminated ground and damp bedding. It can be transferred on contaminated boots, backpacks, insects and rodents.
Poultry come into contact with parasites through feces, dirty drinkers, and damp garbage in houses. The humid area around the drinker is a specific area of infection.
Coccidia can also be found in water that is not kept clean and without chicken manure.
Young chickens (of all kinds) are the most susceptible to infection, and if left untreated, they will soon die.
Overcrowding and intensive breeding of chickens have led to the rapid spread of infection throughout the flock.
Infectious parasites can live in previously contaminated houses for several months, so when they are introduced, they will infect new chickens.
Prevention and Control of Chicken Coccidia
The best way to deal with coccidiosis outbreaks is to prevent the occurrence of coccidiosis in the first place. Although these measures do not always prevent outbreaks, taking these measures can greatly ensure the health of your flock.
Well-practiced biosafety
In order to ensure the safety of chickens, do not wear the same clothes or shoes, and do not use the same tools and equipment as chickens. These tools and equipment have been used in other activities or neighboring chicken farms. If you do, you may expose your chickens to different coccidiomycosis strains because they do not have built-in immunity. You may also infect your neighbor’s chickens with disease strains that exist on the farm.
Isolate new members of the flock
Be sure to place new members at least 12 meters away from your existing flock for at least 3 weeks. This gives you the opportunity to monitor the health of newcomers and prevent disease exposure to your existing flock. It can happen even if new chickens look very healthy. Because remember, new chickens are resistant to the coccidiomycosis strains they carry, but your chickens may not.
Always provide clean/fresh water
Chicken drinking water Since water can easily be contaminated, please make sure you clean your drinking fountain regularly. If possible, provide a poultry nipple watering device instead of an open watering area. The chicks instinctively accept the nipple water device immediately, and the old chickens can easily adapt to the changes. Nipple watering devices provide a clean water source and have been shown to reduce disease. In fact, commercial chicken farms have only used nipple watering devices for more than 20 years.
Keep the feeding area clean and dry
Clean and dry feeding areas are necessary to avoid the spread of many diseases and infections, including coccidiosis. Do not throw food on the ground to avoid contamination.
Keep the brood and chicken coop clean and dry
Although special attention should be paid to the breeding area, keeping the brooding and chicken coops clean and dry is very important to prevent the spread of disease. Dirty, damp bedding provides an ideal environment for coccidiomycosis parasites to reproduce quickly.
Provide enough space
Coccidiosis and many other infections spread rapidly in overcrowded areas. In order to provide sufficient space and ventilation, make sure that each chicken has at least 0.4 square meters of space in the chicken coop, 4 square meters of exercise space, and 0.6 square meters of floor in the brood.
Vaccination
The answer is to get vaccinated at the earliest age, usually day age. If you buy poultry from a breeder, ask if they have been vaccinated or fed feed containing coccidia. Most importantly, vaccinated chicks should never be fed medicated feed, as this will offset the protective effects of the two treatments.
Wixbio vaccination program
Wixbio provides a trivalent live vaccine for coccidiomycosis. You can consult your veterinarian according to the prevalence of the local strain, and we will provide you with appropriate advice.
Broiler vaccination program
3 days old: first immunization with mixing or drinking water
8 days old: mixing materials or drinking water for the second immunization
16 days old: mixing materials or drinking water for the third immunization
Vaccination program for laying hens
3 days old: first immunization with mixing or drinking water
10 days old: mixing materials or drinking water for the second immunization
20 days old: mixing materials or drinking water for the third immunization
Use medicine to start feed for chicks
Unvaccinated chicks should be fed drug starting feed to expose them to low levels of at least one coccidiosis virus strain. If your chicks have been vaccinated against coccidiosis, do not use drug starting feed, because the effects of vaccine and drug feed cancel each other out, leaving the chicks unprotected.
Promote the natural immunity of new chicks
Before the chicks are 4 weeks old, they are gradually introduced into properly maintained chicken farms. This helps the chicks build natural immunity to coccidiomycosis strains present in the current environment and the flock.
Diagnosis of Chicken Coccidia
Fecal materials can be taken to the animal diagnostic laboratory. It is easy to see the oocysts under an optical microscope. If there are dead animals, they can also be taken to the laboratory. Experienced poultry veterinarians can usually diagnose coccidiosis by visually examining the intestines.
Treatment method
The most popular treatment for coccidiosis is the use of amprolium, which prevents the absorption and reproduction of parasites. Treatment is usually carried out by adding amprolium to the chicken’s water supply, but in some cases, if the sick chicken does not eat enough or drink enough, the medicine is taken orally.
Treatment usually lasts for 7 days, although sick chickens usually show improvement in just 24 hours. In a particularly warm and humid environment, it is recommended to take a second dose of treatment after rest to ensure that the infection is completely eradicated. Amprolium can also be given continuously as a disease prevention agent.
FAQ
Can people be infected with coccidiosis?
Coccidiosis does not infect humans, and humans are not the natural host of these parasites. Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease of the intestinal tract of poultry, which is mainly transmitted between poultry.
Can livestock be transmitted to chickens?
It is species-specific, if you have livestock with coccidiosis around you, they will not infect your chickens, and vice versa. However, coccidiosis does not distinguish between chickens. Ducks, turkeys, and geese can all pass the disease to chickens and vice versa.
