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[Coccidiosis in broiler chicks: the prevalence of oocysts in feces in relation to necropsy findings in (sub)clinical coccidiosis and the effect of nicarbazin on these findings].

Faecal samples were also collected from broiler farms presenting birds for autopsy. 126 Samples were examined, using two methods. Oocysts were detectable 3.5 days previously on an average before the presence of coccidiosis was determined at autopsy. Of the faecal samples 65.9 per cent were positive, and 46.0 per cent of the findings at autopsy were positive for coccidiosis. Examination of the faeces showed that more cases of mixed infection were present than could be concluded from autopsy. The largest number of oocysts was observed in E. acervulina infection, though large numbers of oocysts were also detected in cases of mixed infection. Treatment with nicarbazin during te first three weeks of life was found to delay the appearance of coccidiosis. The frequent use of withdrawal periods in the administration of anticoccidial drugs in view of 'thinning' showed high excretion rates.

Animals↗

Fatty acids and coccidiosis: effects of dietary supplementation with different oils on coccidiosis in chickens.

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of dietary oils on coccidiosis of chickens infected with Eimeria tenella. Five hundred and four 1-day-old male Arbor Acres chicks were randomly assigned to seven groups. Seven diets were supplemented with poultry oil at 25 and 45 g/kg, corn oil at 25 and 45 g/kg, fish oil at 25 and 45 g/kg, and without oils, respectively, from 1 to 42 days of age. Chickens were inoculated by gavage with 3 x 10(5) sporulated oocysts at 21 days of age. Diets supplemented with oils at 45 g/kg resulted in higher body weight gain than with oils at 25 g/kg or without oils. The packed cell volume in chicks fed with diets supplemented with poultry oil was lower than that in chicks fed with diets supplemented with fish oil, corn oil and without oil. Chickens fed with diets supplemented with poultry oil had higher mortality than that of chickens fed with diets without oil. At 7 days post infection, the chickens consuming fish or corn oil diets had lower levels of plasma carotenoids than those fed with poultry oil supplement or without oils. Fish oil supplementation increased serum interleukin-6 levels in chickens compared with poultry oil at 25 and 45 g/kg and corn oil at 25 g/kg. Fish oil or corn oil enhanced secretory IgA levels in the lumen of the caecum, and oil supplementation tended to decrease serum IgG levels. In conclusion, the diets supplemented with saturated fatty acids aggravated mortality in chickens infected with E. tenella. The deleterious effects on coccidiosis of the diets supplemented with poultry oils might be related to the decreased levels of caecal E. tenella antigen-binding-specific secretory IgA or serum IgG.

Animal Feed↗

[Studies on coccidiosis in guinea pigs. 2. Epizootiological survey].

An epizootiological survey has been carried out on naturally occurring coccidiosis in Hartley guinea pigs (weight, 250g) purchased by the National Institute of Health, Tokyo during the period 1964 to 1982. Coccidial infections in breeding colonies of guinea pigs were observed very frequently in weaned animals but scarcely in adult and suckling animals. Oocysts of Eimeria caviae were detected in 53.8% of the 7,162 fecal samples collected from transportation boxes and coccidiosis occurred in 39% of the 1,461 dead or culled animals obtained during the routine one week quarantine period. In the period 1964 to 1971, particularly high rates of prevalence of oocysts, between 55-86%, and incidence of coccidiosis, between 55-76%, were observed. These rates were clearly reduced in the period 1972 to 1982, with a lower rate of isolation of oocysts ranging from 14-48% and les than 20% incidence of coccidiosis (except in 1981 and 1982). The monthly fluctuation of occurrence rates of oocysts and clinical coccidiosis differed over the period of study. From 1964 to 1971, the high prevalence of oocysts was consistently observed accompanied by a bimodal pattern of incidence of coccidiosis in April (85%) and October (78%). In the period 1972 to 1982, both parameters showed a single peak, for prevalence of oocysts in June (60.7%) and for incidence of coccidiosis in May (45%). Oocysts in feces disappeared in February and March and coccidiosis occurred irregularly in 1981 and 1982.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animal Husbandry↗

Eimeria acervulina infection in the chicken: a model system for estimating nutrient requirements during coccidiosis.

Eimeria maxima inoculations of 5 X 10(4) oocysts and E. acervulina inoculations of 2 X 10(5) to 4 X 10(5) oocysts were shown to depress growth by 15 to 20% in young chicks fed crystalline amino acid (CAA) diets. The intestinal lesions produced were typical of light to moderate coccidiosis. In one experiment, the performance of chicks fed monensin was increased in the presence, but not in the absence, of E. acervulina. Thus, monensin prevented the negative effects of E. acervulina on chick performance. This coccidiosis X monensin interaction was also indicative of an active coccidiosis infection. Severe E. acervulina infections were produced by inoculations of 1 X 10(6) or 2 X 10(6) oocysts. Under these conditions, gain was depressed by 30 to 40% and the intestinal lesions produced were indicative of severe coccidiosis. Also, E. acervulina infections were more severe in birds fed CAA diets than in birds fed corn-soybean meal diets. Trypsin incubation of the oocysts prior to inoculation had no significant effect on performance regardless of diet type. Based upon growth rate, intestinal lesions, and responses to anticoccidial drugs, it was clearly demonstrated that coccidiosis of varying severity cn be produced in birds fed CAA diets. In addition, it was observed that the CAA diet, with 24.58% amino acids, contained adequate levels of all indispensable nutrients, even during coccidiosis. This assures that the diet can be used effectively for nutrient requirement studies during coccidiosis.

Amino Acids↗

[Use of the anticoccidial agent, tortrazuril (Baycox, Bayer) in coccidiosis in suckling pigs].

At present neonatal coccidiosis caused by Isospora suis is known to be an important disease in piglets. The coccidium I. suis was diagnosed as the causative agent of diarrhoeic disease in piglets on a large pig farm with continuous farrowing operation. The diagnosis of coccidiosis was based on clinical history, gross lesions, histopathology, stained impression smears and aided by detection of oocysts in the faeces. Coccidiosis was associated with diarrhoea in piglets at the age of five to fourteen days. The disease was characterized by variable morbidity and only a portion of the litters was usually affected at one time. The piglets appeared listless, and suffered from yellow watery scours progressing to yellow pasty scours over a three- to five-day period. The lack of response to common antimicrobial therapy, and/or vaccination of sows for E. coli was observed. The prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of tortrazuril (Baycox, Bayer) against coccidiosis was evaluated in naturally infected piglets. Tortrazuril at a dose of 20 mg/kg, given perorally to each piglet on days 6 and 8 of age, proved to be efficacious in preventing clinical coccidiosis in piglets. Tortrazuril fully controlled the oocyst output, prevented the development of diarrhoea but not improved the weight gains in three-week-old piglets if compared to the untreated controls. The prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of tortrazuril was compared with another drug--amprolium (Amprovin, MSD). Amprolium at a dose of 100 mg/kg, given perorally to piglets from day 6 to 8 of age, was not efficacious in preventing clinical porcine neonatal coccidiosis. Amprolium reduced the oocyst output, but not prevented the development of diarrhoea. Tortrazuril (Baycox, Bayer) is clearly effective against porcine neonatal coccidiosis caused by I. suis.

Animals↗

A compartmentalised model for the estimation of the cost of coccidiosis to the world's chicken production industry.

A compartmentalised model is presented for the estimation of the monetary losses suffered by the world's poultry industry resulting from coccidiosis of chickens and costs of its control. The model is designed so that the major elements of loss may be separately quantified for any chicken-producing entity, e.g., a farm, a poultry company, a country, etc. Examples are presented and the sources, reliability and geographical relevance of the data used for each parameter are provided. Loss elements for specific geographical areas should be recalculated at appropriate intervals to take into account local and international fluctuations in costs of chicks feed, labour, financial inflation and world currency exchange rates. Equations are given for relationships among numbers of chickens, liveweights, weights of carcasses, feed consumptions, feed conversion ratio (FCR), prices of feeds, prices of anticoccidial therapeutic and prophylactic drugs, values of chickens, chicken rearing costs; and effects of coccidiosis on mortality, weight gain and FCR. Using these equations, it is theoretically possible for an international team of representatives, each using reliable local data, to calculate simultaneously each relevant loss element for their respective countries. Addition of these elements could give, for the first time, an accurate global estimate of the losses due to chicken coccidiosis. The total cost of coccidiosis in chickens in the United Kingdom in 1995 is estimated to have been at least GB pound silver 38 588 795, of which 98.1% involved broilers (80.6% due to effects on mortality, weight gain and feed conversion, and 17.5% due to the cost of chemoprophylaxis and therapy). The costs of poor performance due to coccidiosis and its chemical control totalled 4.54% of the gross revenue from UK sales of live broilers. This model includes a new method for comparing the profitabilities of different treatments in commercial trials. providing actual costs rather than the arbitrary numerical scores of other methods. Although originally designed for the study of coccidiosis, the model is equally applicable to any disease. It should be of value to agricultural economists, the animal feed and poultry industries, animal health companies, and to research scientists (particularly for preparing grant applications).

Animal Husbandry↗

Study on coccidiosis of scavenging indigenous chickens in Central Ethiopia.

An investigation was made into coccidiosis of 190 scavenging indigenous chickens between September 2000 and April 2001 in three selected agroclimatic zones, in central Ethiopia. This was done through clinical, postmortem and microscopic examinations. Data were processed by chi-square and Mantel-Haenzel test. The study indicated that 25.8% (49/190) of the chickens were infected with coccidiosis and found to harbour one to four different species of Eimeria. Of these infected chickens, 30 (15.8%) and 19 (10.0%) were positive for clinical and sub-clinical coccidiosis, respectively. There was a significant altitude difference (chi2 = 14.7, p <0.001) in coccidiosis prevalence: 42.2% in chickens from highland region followed by 21.5% in mid-altitude and 13.1% in low-altitude areas. When quantified, the prevalence of coccidiosis was 2.66 and 4.83 times higher in the high-altitude than in mid-altitude (odds ratio, OR = 2.66, p<0.05) and low-altitude (OR = 4.83, p<0.001) chickens. The pathogenic Eimeria species responsible for clinical coccidiosis were E. necatrix, E. acervulina, E. maxima and E. tenella. With increasing demand for poultry products in developing countries, knowledge of production constraints in traditional management practices could help devise control strategies for constraints on backyard poultry production systems.

Altitude↗

Interactive effects of sodium bentonite and coccidiosis with monensin or salinomycin in chicks.

Three experiments (Exp.) were conducted to determine the interactive effects of sodium bentonite (NaB) with the efficacy of monensin (MON) or salinomycin (SAL) in coccidiosis-infected chicks. Male broiler chicks 5 to 14 d of age were used, and each treatment was replicated with eight (Exp. 1) or four (Exp. 2 and 3) pens of five chicks each. In Exp. 1, MON (80 ppm), NaB (0.50%), or MON+NaB were fed to uninfected and coccidiosis-infected (5 x 10(5) sporulated Eimeria acervulina oocysts on Day 2 of the Exp.) chicks in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Experiment 2 was identical to Exp. 1, but SAL (30 ppm) replaced MON as the anticoccidial additive. In Exp. 3, MON (55 ppm) or SAL (22 ppm) were added individually or with NaB (0.50%) to diets for uninfected or coccidiosis-infected chicks. Coccidial infection reduced (P < 0.01) gain, feed intake, gain:feed, plasma carotenoids, and percentage tibia ash in all experiments. The MON and SAL additions increased these response criteria in infected chicks (coccidiosis by anticoccidial, P < 0.07), except MON did not increase (P > 0.10) feed intake or tibia ash in Exp. 3. In Exp. 3, NaB partially reduced the positive effect of MON on daily gain (NaB by MON, P < 0.03), and of SAL on feed intake (NaB by SAL, P < 0.08). The NaB addition also increased gain:feed (P < 0.08), and the increase was greater in infected chicks (coccidiosis by NaB, P < 0.08). Also in Exp. 3, SAL increased feed intake more in chicks not fed NaB than in chicks fed NaB (SAL by NaB, P < 0.08). Dietary NaB (0.5%) may reduce the efficacy of MON and SAL in coccidiosis-infected chicks when these additives are added at less than recommended levels.

Animals↗

Efficacy of diclazuril in the prevention and cure of intestinal and hepatic coccidiosis in rabbits.

The efficacy of diclazuril against intestinal and hepatic coccidiosis was studied in artificially infected rabbits. Prophylaxis against intestinal coccidiosis was evaluated using a mixed infection of Eimeria intestinalis, Eimeria magna and Eimeria perforans. Continuous medication in the feed at 1 p.p.m. was 100% effective in reducing oocyst output and faecal scores, and weight gain and feed efficiency were normal. Hepatic coccidiosis induced by Eimeria stiedai was prevented at 0.5 and 1 p.p.m. as shown by negative oocyst counts, normal liver weight, absence of liver lesions, and normal body-weight gain and feed efficiency. Medication at 1 p.p.m. for 7 consecutive days during the prepatent phase of hepatic coccidiosis resulted in large reductions in oocyst counts and lesion scores with a normal liver weight and growth performance. Diclazuril at 1 p.p.m. in the feed prevented both intestinal and hepatic coccidiosis in rabbits and can be advocated for safe mass medication.

Animals↗

Biotechnological advances in the diagnosis of avian coccidiosis and the analysis of genetic variation in Eimeria.

Coccidiosis is an intestinal disease of chickens caused by various species of protozoan parasites within the genus Eimeria. This disease has a major economic impact to growers and to the poultry industry world-wide. The diagnosis and genetic characterization of the different species of Eimeria are central to the prevention, surveillance and control of coccidiosis, particularly now given the major problems with wide-spread resistance of Eimeria species against anticoccidial drugs (coccidiostats) and the residue problems associated with these compounds. While traditional methods have had major limitations in the specific diagnosis of coccidiosis, there have been significant advances in the development of molecular-diagnostic tools. The present article provides a background on coccidiosis, reviews the main molecular methods which have been used and describes recent advances in the establishment of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-coupled electrophoretic approaches for the specific diagnosis of coccidiosis as well as the genetic characterization of species of Eimeria. These biotechnological advances are considered to represent a significant step toward the improved prevention and control of this important disease of poultry.

Animals↗

Coccidiosis control by administering toltrazuril in the drinking water for a 2-day period.

A 56-day floor pen study was conducted to determine the appropriate time to administer toltrazuril (Baycox) (TOL) for control of coccidiosis in broiler chickens. Litter was seeded with field strains of Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria maxima and Eimeria tenella. On Days 0, 21, 35 and 56, all birds and feed were weighed. Starting on Day 14, weekly lesion scores and oocyst counts were performed. The treatments were 125 ppm nicarb (NIC) in the starter to 66 ppm salinomycin (SAL) in the grower with no TOL (NIC/SAL/no TOL), 66 ppm salinomycin in both the starter and the grower but no TOL (SAL/SAL/no TOL), or no in-feed medication with the following TOL treatment: TOL Days 2-3, TOL Days 6-7, TOL Days 10-11, TOL Days 14-15, TOL Days 18-19, and as control NM/NM/no TOL (NM). The withdrawal feed was nonmedicated. TOL was administered in the drinking water at the rate of 7 mg/kg body weight. Oocysts per gram litter and lesion scores showed a significant infection in the NM birds, which peaked about Day 21. The NIC/SAL gave excellent early protection but only moderate protection during the SAL phase. The final performance for the SAL/SAL was significantly less compared to all TOL and NIC/SAL birds. All TOL treatments but Days 2-3 provided good coccidiosis control with accompanying performance. The absence of clinical coccidiosis relapse during the last third of the growout along with moderate oocyst counts and low lesions was indicative of unimpaired coccidiosis immunity. It can be inferred from the overall results that the use of TOL as the sole anticoccidial for two consecutive days in the drinking water between Days 10 and 14 would be the best time for good coccidiosis control allowing full performance.

Animals↗

Higher incidence of Eimeria spp. field isolates sensitive for diclazuril and monensin associated with the use of live coccidiosis vaccination with paracox-5 in broiler farms.

Twenty European Eimeria spp. field isolates were subjected to an anticoccidial sensitivity test (AST). The anticoccidial drugs tested were diclazuril (Clinacox) and monensin (Elancoban). The assay was performed in a battery cage trial. Infected medicated birds were compared with an unmedicated control group. Coccidial lesion scores and oocyst shedding were used as parameters. The results of the AST show that resistance is common amongst coccidiosis field isolates, especially Eimeria acervulina (68% and 53% resistance for diclazuril and monensin, respectively). Resistance is less frequent amongst Eimeria maxima (38% and 50% resistance for diclazuril and monensin, respectively) and Eimeria tenella isolates (23% and 38% resistance for diclazuril and monensin, respectively). A highly significant influence of the coccidiosis prevention program (live coccidiosis vaccination with Paracox-5 vs. anticoccidial drugs in feed) on the sensitivity patterns of Eimeria spp. field isolates for both diclazuril (P= 0.000) and monensin (P= 0.001) was found. Further, when looking at the single species and each anticoccidial drug level, significantly more sensitivity of E. acervulina for monensin (P= 0.018), E. maxima for diclazuril (P = 0.009), and E. tenella for diclazuril (P = 0.007) was found in isolates originating from vaccinated flocks. Moreover, for E. acervulina and diclazuril, E. maxima and monensin, and E. tenella and monensin a trend toward higher sensitivity of isolates for these products was found when live coccidiosis vaccination was applied. The present study shows that sensitivity for the anticoccidial drugs diclazuril and monensin is more frequent in Eimeria spp. field isolates originating from broiler farms where a coccidiosis vaccination policy is followed.

Agriculture↗

Effect of levamisole on the response of broilers to coccidiosis vaccination.

The effect of levamisole on the response of commercial broilers to coccidiosis vaccination was assessed. The concentration, frequency, and timing of levamisole were varied in three separate experiments to determine optimum conditions for potentiating the response of broilers to a single oral dose of commercial coccidiosis vaccine at 7 days of age. In all instances, levamisole was found to improve development of immunity to coccidiosis. Birds that received levamisole by intraperitoneal (IP) injection had better weight gains for 3 weeks following coccidiosis vaccination and improved resistance to challenge with Eimeria tenella when compared with vaccinated chickens that did not receive levamisole. However, levamisole given at .25 mg/kg body weight by IP injection 3 days prior to the coccidiosis vaccine resulted in the greatest potentiation of the immune response. Performance parameters following challenge included weight gain, oocyst production, fecal droppings, and livability. Findings confirm and extend observations regarding the ability of levamisole to potentiate vaccination responses in chickens.

Animals↗

Anticoccidial activity of Lasalocid in control of moderate and severe coccidiosis.

The fermentation product lasalocid ("Antibiotic X-537A," Hoffmann-LaRoche) showed good anticoccidial activity when administered via feed at 50 or 75 ppm in a replicated floor-pen experiment. Lasalocid was compared with monensin (121 ppm) ("positive control") and also with unmedicated ("negative") controls in pens heavily seeded or indirectly seeded with eight species of coccidia (Eimeria acervulina, E. brunetti, E. hagani, E. maxima, E. mitati, E. necatrix, E. praecox, and E. tenella). Under severe coccidiosis exposure (litter seeded by infected birds) both anticoccidials permitted significantly increased weights, improved feed conversions, and reduced lesion scores. Shank depigmentation was numerically less in anticoccidial-treated birds than in unmedicated controls, though not significantly. Coccidiosis mortality (lesions or parasites demonstrated) was 10% in unmedicated controls. Lasaloic reduced this mortality significantly to 0.8% at 50 ppm and 0.4% at 75 ppm. No coccidiosis mortality occurred with monensin-fed birds. With moderate exposure (indirect seeding) both anticoccidials permitted significantly greater weight gains and less shank depigmentation than in unmedicated controls. In unmedicated pens severity of coccidiosis was significantly greater in the intentionally seeded pens than in indirectly seeded pens with all parameters except depigmentation. This design provided a practical procedure for testing anticoccidials in a single experiment against severe and moderate exposures to coccidiosis as are normal in broiler production.

Administration, Oral↗

[Coccidiosis during the rearing of broiler breeding stock in Limburg].

Increasing complaints concerning the rearing of broiler breeding stock in the Province of Limburg were the reason for collecting data and examining the possibilities of prevention more closely. The first batches of broiler breeders submitted to the Animal Health Service in Heythuysen were examined for the presence of coccidiosis throughout the year 1982. Of 363 groups submitted, 1,484 birds about which there were complaints, were examined. Of these, 153 flocks were found to be positive for coccidiosis, that is 42 per cent. The proportion of birds found to be positive was highest during the third quarter of 1982, being 50.52 per cent; two-thirds of these were birds under 3 months. Eimeria necatrix was the most common, being mainly present in the younger birds during the third quarter of the year, and the highest score was also recorded in this group. Coccidiosis may be associated with necrotic enteritis due to Clostridium perfringens. When these two are combined, this may cause very severe inflammatory lesions which may complicate treatment. Cl. perfringens was also found to be present in 11.6 per cent of the birds submitted, being particularly associated with E. necatrix and E. maxima. Amprol plus was found to be the anti-coccidial agent giving rise to the majority of problems, particularly in chickens under three months. Pancoxin plus and the shuttle monensin- Pancoxin plus were found to prevent more cases of coccidiosis, though they did so to a lesser degree in the older birds. Attention is drawn to the possible effect of feed-restriction on the prevention of coccidiosis in broiler breeding stock.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗