An excellent poultry production in the current national and international commercial scenario is directly related to an adequate sanitary control, since, in situations of incorrect management, adult chicks and chickens can be affected by several diseases, such as avian eimeriosis, caused by the obligate intracellular apicomplex protist Eimeria spp. which generates numerous losses to agribusiness. Among the main species that cause economic impact on poultry farming, the species E. acervulina, E. maxima, and E. tenella stand out, especially due to their high capacity for dissemination and the severity of the disease presentation. Sanitary measures to control coccidiosis, such as rigorous cleaning of sheds and bedding, as well as the responsible use of anticoccidial drugs, require extensive planning and commitment on the part of producers. The objective of this study was to carry out a literature review on avian coccidiosis in order to better understand the characteristics of the agent and to relate the pathogenesis to the methods of diagnosis, control and prevention of this disease, since the impact of the disease is masterful.