Eimeria infections among commercial laying chickens in Nigeria: the prevalence and clinico-histopathological changes

This study was designed to determine the nation-wide prevalence and clinico-histopathological changes associated withEimeria infections in commercial laying birds in Nigeria. One Thousand eight hundred and forty-three (1843) commercial laying chickens from 28 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria, between 2007 and 2016 were examined for the presence ofEimeria parasites and for clinicopathological lesions. Simple flotation and the McMaster techniques were used to confirm the presence ofEimeria oocysts and estimate the oocyst load. Positive samples were sporulated for the purpose of species differentiation. Gross and histopathology were carried out accordingly. Two hundred and seven (207) faecal samples/carcasses were positive forEimeria infections (11.23%; 95% CI  = 9.87–12.75).Eimeria tenella andE.necatrix were the most prevalent species. The highest mean oocyst per gram (OPG) was recorded inE.acervulina (5260.87 (± 1838.35)). The prevalence ofEimeria infections in commercial laying birds within the states ranged between 4.4% (Kaduna State), and 33% (Ebonyi and Lagos States), and 21.1% in FCT. There was a higher prevalence ofEimeria infections in commercial laying birds that are less than 1  year compared to those above a year.Eimeria infections was 2.19 times more likely to occur during the wet season compared to the dry season (95% CI  = 1.59–3.06; χ2 = 23.29;P = <  0.01). One hundred and eighty-five (185) carcasses showed m...
Source: Journal of Parasitic Diseases - Category: Parasitology Source Type: research