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Review
. 2021 Dec 21:8:787653.
doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.787653. eCollection 2021.

Chicken Coccidiosis: From the Parasite Lifecycle to Control of the Disease

Carolina Mesa-Pineda  1 , Jeffer L Navarro-Ruíz  2 , Sara López-Osorio  2 , Jenny J Chaparro-Gutiérrez  2 , Luis M Gómez-Osorio  3
Affiliations
Review

Chicken Coccidiosis: From the Parasite Lifecycle to Control of the Disease

Carolina Mesa-Pineda et al. Front Vet Sci. .

Abstract

The poultry industry is one of the main providers of protein for the world's population, but it faces great challenges including coccidiosis, one of the diseases with the most impact on productive performance. Coccidiosis is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Eimeria, which are a group of monoxenous obligate intracellular parasites. Seven species of this genus can affect chickens (Gallus gallus), each with different pathogenic characteristics and targeting a specific intestinal location. Eimeria alters the function of the intestinal tract, generating deficiencies in the absorption of nutrients and lowering productive performance, leading to economic losses. The objective of this manuscript is to review basic concepts of coccidiosis, the different Eimeria species that infect chickens, their life cycle, and the most sustainable and holistic methods available to control the disease.

Keywords: Eimeria; anticoccidials; chickens; diagnostic; oocysts.

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Conflict of interest statement

LG-O was employed by the company Alura Animal Health and Nutrition and CM-P was employed by the company Solla S.A. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Life cycle of Eimeria spp and apical complex of Eimeria.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Classical methods for the evaluation of Eimeria infections. (A,B) Gross lesion E. acervulina and E. tenella. (C) Bird with coccidiosis. (D) Feces with blood. (E,F) Shape of oocysts of Eimeria spp.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mini-flotac® diagram. Fill- flotac® with lid, filter and homogenizer and Mini-flotac® with disc, two reading chambers and key.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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