Occurrence of Caecal Coccidiosis Among Broilers in Gaza strip

Abstract

Background: Coccidiosis is a health problem resulting in significant economic losses worldwide. The impacts of disease on animal production include, for example, lost revenues, costs of vaccination, prevention, eradication, decontamination and restocking. Objective: This study aimed to determine the occurrence of caecal coccidiosis among broiler chiken in Gaza strip. Subjects and methods: The study was conducted during September (which has recorded the highest prevalence), October and November, 2009 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. Results: 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. Middle governorate represented the highest prevalence (80%). Clinical coccidiosis was only found in groups 1.3 to 1.5 and 1.6 to 1.9 kg with prevalence (9.3%) and (6%), respectively. Conclusions: The prevalence of the infection increased among the older broiler chicken. Absence of clinical signs of disease does not mean the farm is not infected; diagnosis is based on the presence of lesions at postmortem and the identification. With the aid of a microscope, using direct smear scraping is more sensitive and low cost and time. E. tenella in the present study was found to cause clinical signs in broilers. Keywords: Prevalence, Caecal Coccidiosis, Eimeria tenella, Broilers, Gaza strip