Histopathological study of induced Eimeria spp. infection in chicken broilers

• Main Author: Cuvin, Karlo P.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1997
• Subjects: Eimeria; Coccidiosis; Histology; Pathological; Chickens > Infections
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/1429
• Institution: De La Salle University

ANAK-180 chicks (5 days old) were exposed to Eimeria spp. infection. Twenty chicks were housed in a cage designed to provide the conditions that would bring about the factors required for coccidial infection to occur. The experimental environment was highly effective in altering the standards on space, sanitation, temperature and feeding requirements in poultry management which provided for induction of coccidial infection. Two to three weeks post-exposure, chicks were found to show clinical signs and symptoms of coccidiosis such as loose chocolate brown droppings drowsy & sleepy appearance aggregation in one corner ruffled feather loss of skin pigmentation lethargic & moribund appearance stiffed legs stunted growth significant decrease in food and water intake. Examination of 15 out of 16 infected chicks revealed prominent damage in almost the entire length of the small and large intestine characterized grossly by hemorrhagic spots, presence of bloody materials in the intestinal caeca, discoloration of intestinal parts, thickening of intestinal wall, and unknown outgrowths on the ileum. Cross sections of the intestine revealed damages such as sloughing of tissues, loss of cellular integrity and hyperplasia, all noted prevalent in the intestinal villi. An acute kind of coccidial infection occured in which damages could be attributed to many possible coccidian agent(s) present in the flock.