Abstract
A descriptive epidemiological survey was made in Nineveh governorate 1999-2004 for determination of broiler clinical caecal coccidiosis incidence in broiler chickens. Out of total 3594 broiler patches reared in this period, 1918 (53.36%) were positive to caecal coccidiosis. The highest percentages (35.34%) of coccidial cases were recorded in the year 2000. There was a decreasing tendency in recording caecal coccidiosis from 24.29% in 1999 to 6.77% in 2004. There was a positive relationship between the patch size (number of birds) in each year and the incidence of caecal coccidiosis. Of the main 7 NINEVAH governmental localities, Kara kosh, practiced the highest incidence of caecal coccidiosis through 1999-2004, in which 1615(49.21%) broiler patches were reared out of the total 3594 broiler patches reared in all 7 localities. Seasonal effect on the incidence of caecal coccidiosis show that the highest were reported in Spring then Autumn, followed by Winter and Summer months. Most of the broiler patches experienced caecal coccidiosis between 3-6 weeks of age. From 1918 positive broiler patches to coccidiosis, 1344 patches were fed diets without anticoccidials, while 574 positive broiler patches were fed diets with anticoccidials. There was a decreasing tendency in caecal coccidiosis with increasing number of broiler patches fed diets amended with anticoccidials from 1999 till 2004. The hygienic significance in reducing clinical caecal coccidiosis was discussed.
Highlights
The poultry industry in Iraq has recorded considerable expansion in recent years
Pathological finding: Diagnosis of field clinical caecal coccidiosis was dependent upon cecal lesion findings, which were characterized by prominent fresh blood filling two caeci, with firm bloody cores in many instances, accompanying by clusters of large schizonts and oocysts
Figure1: Clinical caecal coccidiosis in broilers 5 weeks of age with blotchy hemorrhagic lesions, accompanied by hemorrhages into the caecal lumen caused by Eimeria tenella
Summary
The poultry industry in Iraq has recorded considerable expansion in recent years. This has led to the establishment of poultry farms around major cities in the state. Coccidia of the genus Eimeria cause the most widespread health problems in the broiler industry and remain one of the most expensive diseases of commercial poultry production [7, 8]. Coccidiosis caused by E. tenella is the best known of the avian types, partly because of the spectacular disease it causes, and partly because of its widespread importance in commercial broilers [4] These microscopic, onecelled parasites invade their host via the fecal-oral route, and immunity is achieved once the parasite completes its life cycle in the host [4]. Initial attention was concentrated upon acute coccidiosis caused by Eimeria tenella which was mainly seen during the intensive rearing of large numbers of newly hatched chicks It was the species about which most was known and the disease could be readily identified by the characteristic hemorrhagic caeca and bloody droppings. Coccidiosis in Nineveh commercial poultry industry has still increased due to lack of biosecurity policy, higher stocking densities which favored the spread of this disease in commercial poultry facilities
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