EVALUATION OF COCCIDIAL PREVALENCE AND INTENSITY IN POULTRY BIRDS IN MINNA METROPOLIS, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

A survey to determine the prevalence and intensity of coccidiosis among poultry birds within Minna metropolis Niger State, Nigeria, was carried out between July and October 2013. A total of 450 fresh faecal droppings and 80 carcasses were collected from 12 different poultry farms within Minna, and analyzed using parasitological techniques. From the 450 faecal samples collected, a total of 166(36.3%) were infected with oocyst of Coccidia. An overall geometric mean intensity of 8.12 oocyst/3g of faeces was recorded. Prevalence of infection was higher in the adult birds (37.2%) than in the younger birds (36.5%). There was no significant difference (P<0.05) in the intensity of infection between the age groups. The Eimeria species isolated from the post mortem examination included: Eimeria tenella, E. maxima, E. acevulina, E. necatrix and E. mitis. An overall prevalence of 66.3% infection was recorded from the post mortem examination.   E. tenella prevalence was higher than the other Eimeria species. The overall geometric mean intensity of 8.33oocyst/1g of faeces was recorded. However, the intensity of oocysts was not significant (P<0.05). An overall prevalence (55.6%) of single infection and a prevalence (44.4%) of mixed infections of Eimeria species isolated from the post-mortem examination was also recorded. The present study showed that coccidiosis is an important disease of poultry in the study area and suggest that appropriate control and treatment strategies be designed to reduce the effect of the disease.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0    INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background

Poultry refers to domestic birds such as Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks, Guinea fowl, Peasants, Geese, Quills kept for meat or egg production. Poultry are kept in backyards or in commercial production systems in most areas of the world. Compared to a number of other livestock species, fewer social and religious taboos are related to the production, marketing, and consumption of poultry products. For these reasons, poultry products have become one of the most important protein sources for people throughout the world (Anders and Jordan, 1998).

Diseases results when normal body functions are impaired, and the degree of impairment determines the severity of the disease. It may result from the consequences of harmful actions of infectious and parasitic agents, or it may be caused by injury or physical stress with which the bird cannot cope. A disease resulting from  parasitism  depends  on  the number, type,  and  virulence  of the parasite, the route of entry to the body, the defense status and capabilities of the host. (Saif, Barnes, Glisson, Mcdougald, and Swayne, 2003).

Coccidiosis is an important poultry disease caused by a protozoan parasite belonging to the Apicomplexa phylum, the family of the Eimeridae and genus of Eimeria. There are 7 species of coccidia of pathological importance in chicken: Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria brunetti, Eimeria maxima, Eimeria necatrix, Eimeria tenella, Eimeria praecox and Eimeria mitis (Ovington, Alleva, and Kerr, 1995). In all parts of the world where confinement rearing is practiced, coccidiosis represents a major disease problem that requests attention of poultry producers, feed manufactures and poultry disease experts. The infectious form of the parasite is the oocyst, which sporulates two days following excretion through the feaces in natural environment and can be ingested by a susceptible host organism (Williams, 1999). Coccidiosis is a gastrointestinal avian disease characterized by enteritis and diarrhea, which can become bloody with certain Eimeria species. The sporozoites replication in the epithelial cells of the intestinal tract causes tissue damage with resulting interruption of feeding, digestive processes or nutrient absorption, dehydration and blood loss (McDougald, 2003). The macroscopic lesions in the digestive tract are some predisposing factors to many gastrointestinal bacterial poultry diseases such as Clostridiosis, Salmonellosis and Colibacillosis (Bostvironnois and Zadjian, 2011). Certain immunosuppressive viral diseases such as Infectious bursal disease, Marek disease and Chick aneamia infectious viral disease (Lanckriert et al., 2010) also exacerbate coccidiosis. The economic importance of the disease is due to its high rate of morbidity and mortality in young and adult birds, reduced feed conversion efficiency and egg production especially in sub-clinical cases.

Epidemiological studies in Nigeria have established the economic importance of coccidiosis as a major parasitic disease of poultry (Majaro, 1980, 1983 and 2001; Adene and Oluleye, 2004; Abdu, 2007). The disease occurs throughout the year in Northern Nigeria but with higher prevalence rate from May to September have been reported ( Etuk, Okoli, and Uko, 2004; Abdu, 2007).

Coccidiosis has been shown to be common to intensively managed commercial poultry farms especially where management or hygienic standards are compromised (Adene and Oluleye, 2004). The increasing interest in commercial poultry production in Nigeria evidenced by the proliferation of poultry farms, suggests increased risk of outbreak of coccidiosis. The current study came up with the prevalence and intensity of coccidiosis and the preponderance of Eimeria species affecting the intensively managed commercial exotic chickens in Minna.

1.2           Justification

The poultry industry occupies an important position in the provision of animal protein (meat and egg) to human and generally plays a vital role in the national economy as a revenue provider. Coccidiosis is a health problem resulting in significant economic losses in the world. The impacts of disease on animal agriculture include, for example, lost in revenues, costs of vaccination, prevention, eradication, decontamination and restocking. Knowledge of the prevalence of coccidiosis is essential in understanding the epidemiology of the disease and on which basis the designing of appropriate control measures that would increase poultry productivity to meet the local seasonal demand for chicken and chicken products during religious and cultural festivals.

1.3           Aim

The aim of this study to investigate the prevalence and intensity of coccidiosis infection in poultry birds within Minna.

1.4           Objectives

I.            To  determine  the  prevalence  of  coccidial  infection  among  poultry  in  Minna metropolis.

II.           To determine the species of coccidia infecting poultry in Minna metropolis.

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