Prevalence of Caecal Coccidiosis among Broilers in Gaza strip

Abstract

In developing countries, animal production is being subjected to great pressure to satisfy the demand for animal protein required by the continued increase in human population, and to have surplus for international trade. Coccidiosis is a health problem resulting in significant economic losses in the world. The impacts of disease on animal agriculture include, for example, lost revenues, costs of vaccination, prevention, eradication, decontamination and restocking. This study aims to determine the prevalence of caecal coccidiosis among broilers in Gaza strip, potential risk factors for poor bio-safety measures and the given withdrawal period of anticoccdial drugs. This study was conducted in the Gaza strip governorates, Palestine. Randomly 390 broilers caeca were collected from poultry shops, 10 caeca from every poultry shop were sampled. Test tube flotation for caecal content and direct smear scraping of the caeca lining was done to detect Eimeria tenella based on the dimensions of oocysts and schizonts respectively. In addition, postmortem was done to detect the clinical coccidiosis. This study was done during September (which recorded the highest prevalence), October and November 2009. The present study came up with the following findings: The prevalence of sub-clinical caecal coccidiosis was 54.4 %. Multi-variable associations were tested between each variable. The bio-safety measures, farmers knowledge and protection programs against the disease did not comply with the approved standards. Accordingly, the researcher recommends that, bio-safety measures, vaccination and proper treatment must be applicative in Gaza strip.