• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Livestocking

  • HOME
  • ANIMAL
    • Poultry
      • Chicken
      • Turkey
      • Guinea Fowl
      • Quail
      • Ostrich
      • Incubator & Egg
      • Coop
    • Pig
    • Ruminant
      • Cattle
      • Goat
      • Sheep
    • Micro-Livestock
      • Grasscutter
      • Guinea Pig
      • Honey Bee
      • Rabbit
      • Snail
    • Guinea Pig
  • MANAGEMENT
    • Health
    • Agribusiness
    • Nutrition
  • SHOP
  • ABOUT
    • About Livestocking
    • About Author
  • CONTACT
  • PRIVACY
Coccidiosis in Poultry: Signs, Control & Prevention

Coccidiosis in Poultry: Signs, Control & Prevention

by Akinbobola A. 1 Comment

Contents

  • What is Coccidiosis?
  • Signs and Symptoms of Coccidiosis
  • How to Treat or Control Coccidiosis

What is Coccidiosis?

Coccidiosis or Cocci in poultry is an important protozoan disease that is capable of wiping out a large number of affected chickens overnight. Coccidiosis affecting poultry birds include Eimeria tenella, E. necatrix, E. maxima, E. mivati, E. mitis, E. brunette, etc.

It is easier or better to prevent than to cure it because a poultry farmer may not be aware that his birds have coccidiosis until it is very late. Unfortunately, he might have lost a good number of chickens. This is the reason why a poultry farmer needs to know what to look for and what is needed to be done.

Coccidiosis is a protozoan disease that infects the intestine of poultry birds like broilers, layers, turkeys and other animals. This disease can cause damage to the host bird within 4-7 days as the Eimeria parasite replicates and damage the intestinal mucosa of the host within this period.

ALSO READ:  Vaccination Schedule for KARI Improved Kienyeji Chicken

This disease starts when poultry birds (broilers, layers or turkeys) ingest relatively many sporulated oocysts of the parasite. These oocysts are present in litter, contaminated feed, soil, dust and water. Furthermore, these oocysts can be transmitted by insects, clothing, pen materials or equipment or in the feces of infected birds. However, fresh oocysts are not harmful or effective unless it is sporulated, and this could happen when the environmental temperature is around 70°–90°F and with adequate oxygen and moisture within 24-48 hours.

Depending on certain environmental factors, sporulated oocysts may survive in the sporulated form for long periods and they are resistant to some disinfectants but could be destroyed by high temperatures or freezing.

ALSO READ:  How to Identify Good & Poor Egg Layers

If one or some of your birds is infected with cocci and on deep-litter, it means that the chances that the whole flock will be affected because they have access to the litter and the faeces excreted by those infected.

Signs and Symptoms of Coccidiosis

When birds are suffering from coccidiosis, the following are observed:

  • Blood in droppings, blood-stained faeces or sticky white diarrhoea around the cloaca
  • Drop in feed intake due to loss of appetite and this is followed by a rapid drop in body weight
  • Ruffled feathers and dropped wings
  • High mortality rate in a flock
  • Reluctance to move and general weakness (fowl paralysis)
  • Birds huddle together with closed eyes
  • Pale wattles and combs

How to Treat or Control Coccidiosis

Birds that are raised on a battery-cage system have fewer coccidia infections because they have little or no access to litter or faecal droppings. Hence, it is recommended to raise birds in cages rather than on deep-litter. However, if the birds are on a deep-litter system, the litter should be changed regularly (once in two weeks) and avoid too much water spilling on the litter. When the litter is wet or smells ammonia, it should be evacuated and replaced to dry litter (wood shavings).

ALSO READ:  Poultry Diseases that are Rampant in the Cold or Wet Season

Anti-coccidial vaccines and drugs could also be used as they are very effective in controlling coccidiosis. Anti-coccidial drugs that can be used to treat coccidiosis include Prococ, Amprocox, Coxstop, Coccicare and Sulpha drugs. Continuous use of a low level of a coccidiostat through feed also helps.

Above all, maintaining a high level of hygiene and sanitation would greatly help in preventing coccidiosis in your flock.

For Further Reading:

  • http://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/coccidiosis/overview-of-coccidiosis-in-poultry
  • http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/coccidiosis/index.aspx
  • http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/206/coccidiosis/
Share12
Tweet
Pin
WhatsApp
More
12 Shares

CLICK HERE TO JOIN LIVESTOCKING WHATSAPP & TELEGRAM GROUP

TRY OUR SPECIAL BROILER FEED FORMULAS FOR EXCELLENT GROWTH

Related Articles

  • Special Feed Formula for Optimal Chicks, Growers & Layers Performance
  • How to Protect Chickens from Snakes
  • A Quick Guide to the Different Types of Guinea Pigs
  • Special Broiler Feed Formula for Faster Growth & Big Weight

Filed Under: Animal Health, Poultry Tagged: poultry disease, poultry health

About Akinbobola A.

I am an entrepreneur, certified animal scientist, consultant and blogger. You can follow Livestocking on Facebook and Twitter. Click Here to E-mail me

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rufus says

    March 23, 2019 at 12:46 pm

    what quantity can be used in thier feed contineously as stated above. and how often do one repeat the oral treatment.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Buy Day Old Chicks Online

Buy Chicks Online

Recommended Articles

  • How to Safely Debeak Chickens & Other Poultry BirdsHow to Safely Debeak Chickens & Other Poultry Birds
  • Molting in Chickens: Everything You Need To KnowMolting in Chickens: Everything You Need To Know
  • 7 Causes of Reduction in Egg Production7 Causes of Reduction in Egg Production
  • Herbs for Healthy ChickensHerbs for Healthy Chickens
  • How to Boost or Increase Egg ProductionHow to Boost or Increase Egg Production

Footer

Afrimash Affiliate Disclosure

“We are a participant in the Afrimash Affiliates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn commissions by linking to Afrimash.com and affiliated sites.”

DISCLOSURE

Some of the links on this page may contain affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, i will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. This way i can continue to produce high-quality content and keep Livestocking.net running.

Copyright © 2021 by Livestocking · All rights reserved

  • About
  • Egg Incubator
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise
  • Amazon Associates Disclosure