Overview
Coccidiosis is an intestinal parasitic disease in broiler chickens caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Eimeria, leading to malabsorption, reduced performance, and impaired bone mineralization 1.Diagnosis
Clinical signs include diarrhea, weight loss, and reduced feed efficiency 1.
Gross lesions observed in the small intestine, such as mucosal thickening and petechiae 1.
Histomorphometric analysis of intestinal tissue for increased coccidial oocyst burden 1.
Assessment of bone mineralization parameters, including radiographic and histological evaluations 1.Management
First-line treatment: Supportive dietary adjustments, particularly in calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) levels, to mitigate the negative impacts of coccidiosis 1.
Vitamin D supplementation: Use of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (OHD) over cholecalciferol (D3) may improve bone mineralization in broilers with marginal Ca/P deficiencies during coccidiosis 1.
Control measures: Implement biosecurity protocols and anticoccidial drugs as per standard veterinary guidelines, though specific drug classes and doses are not detailed in the provided abstracts 1.Special Populations
No specific data provided for pregnancy, pediatrics, elderly, or comorbidities in broiler chickens 1.Key Recommendations
Optimize dietary Ca and P levels, especially when using 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (OHD) for vitamin D supplementation, to enhance bone mineralization in coccidia-infected broilers (Evidence: Moderate) 1.
Monitor and manage intestinal health through histomorphometric analysis to assess the impact of coccidiosis on intestinal morphology (Evidence: Moderate) 1.
Implement biosecurity and consider anticoccidial drugs as part of routine management practices, though specific drug recommendations are not detailed in the provided abstracts (Evidence: Expert opinion) 1.References
1 Oikeh I, Sakkas P, Blake DP, Kyriazakis I. Interactions between dietary calcium and phosphorus level, and vitamin D source on bone mineralization, performance, and intestinal morphology of coccidia-infected broilers1. Poultry science 2019. link