Ameriosis chickens mainly affects young birds. Without treatment, the chickens either die or become lifelong carriers, which brings material damage to the household. The biology of the development of eimeriosis of chickens can be different, because 9 pathogens can cause the disease right away. If an infection is detected, it is necessary to improve the economy.
Historical reference
The first data on eimeriosis of chickens date from the 18th century. In 1891, a mass mortality of chickens from this disease was recorded. In the cecum of the dead bird, the same parasite was found. Later, scientists conducted the first experimental infections of young chickens. In the Soviet Union, scientists Yakimov and Galuso began to study the disease.
Pathogen
The cause of eimeriosis in chickens is nine species of simple single-celled organisms. But most often, veterinarians have to deal with four of them. Pathogens have a complex development cycle, the first part of it occurs in the body of the bird, where oocysts are formed. After a while, they stand out in the environment. If temperature and humidity are favorable, then the oocytes are activated. They can infect birds and animals that swallow them.
In the presence of an optimal amount of oxygen, favorable humidity and a temperature of 18 to 29 degrees, oocytes become invasive after 2-4 days. After they get into the digestive tract of the bird and begin to parasitize there. Their shell is damaged, and sporozoites appear in the light. They are able to invade the epithelial cells and multiply in them, which the parasites do. From one oocyte in just a week, up to 2 million chickens of eimeriosis can appear. Most often, the disease occurs in young birds under the age of 180 days.
Epizootological data
Veterinarians diagnose emeriosis in chickens and rabbits in all regions of Russia. The disease is no less common in other countries. Pathogens are resistant to adverse environmental conditions. They also have good reproducibility.
In small private households, outbreaks of infection are most often observed in spring, summer and early fall. This is because at these times of the year the temperature and humidity level are most favorable for the reproduction of eimeria. Moreover, in the warmer months of the year, farmers are more likely to breed chickens that are most susceptible to disease.
At the poultry farm, seasonality is not so pronounced. Crowded birds are more likely to catch eimeriosis. Dampness in the room and improper feeding can exacerbate the situation with the incidence of chickens.
Disease Description
Eimeriosis in chickens is an infection that primarily affects young animals. This disease is also called coccidiosis. The causative agents of eimeriosis parasitize in the intestines in animals and birds. Mostly sick chickens aged 10-15 to 180 days.
Improper bird feeding increases the likelihood of an epidemic. Especially dangerous is the lack of vitamins. The causative agents of eimeriosis love damp, warmth and unsanitary conditions. Of particular danger are winter deep litter that does not change for months. A sick bird becomes lethargic, constantly lies and loses interest in the world around it. Chickens stop eating, lose weight very much, often they have a violation of the stool. Some individuals may experience cramps.
Immunity
A bird of any species and breeds is susceptible to the disease. But at the moment, too few studies have been conducted aimed at identifying immunity to eimeriosis of individual chickens. It is known that in the acute form of the disease most often carry chickens aged 10 days. Adult birds are usually carriers, clinically they look healthy. For example, chickens with eimeriosis in the photo do not differ from uninfected ones.
It turns out that their immunity depends on the presence of a pathogen in their body. Antibodies are formed in the blood of sick birds, which makes them immune to reinfection. This discovery made it possible to develop immunization methods in which exposed oocytes are used.
The incubation period of the disease
Most often, the disease first proceeds in an asymptomatic form. Typically, the incubation period takes from 3 to 15 days. There are 3 forms of the course of eimeriosis: acute, subacute and chronic. The first two are more characteristic for chickens, and the last for adult chickens.
The time of onset of symptoms depends on the type of pathogen that has affected the bird. The age of the animal and its immunity are also important. Depleted individuals receiving poor nutrition respond more quickly to disease. Also in this situation, the presence or absence of other chronic diseases plays a role.
Distribution paths
The main way of bird infection is through contact with infected individuals. Also, the danger is a deep litter or seeded equipment. It has been observed that if chickens are released into a brooder that has infected items, then eimeriosis is diagnosed after about 2 weeks, occasionally after a month. After 45-60 days, if the chickens are not dead, they develop immunity. These individuals no longer have acute chicken eimeriosis in acute form, their symptoms disappear, they become lifelong carriers.
From the first days, you can keep chickens on personal brooders and prevent contacts between different groups. In this case, when infected at the age of 1.5-2 months, they become ill on the 5-10th day. By day 20, without treatment for heymeriosis of hens, the infection reaches its maximum.
Symptoms
Manifestations of eimeriosis may differ depending on the form in which the disease occurs. Clinical signs are especially pronounced in chickens under the age of 2 months. In eimeriosis of chickens, the symptoms and treatment differ depending on the age of the bird. In the acute form, chickens become drowsy, inactive, lethargic. Almost all the time they either lie or sit with their wings down. Chickens refuse to eat and drink a lot.
This is due to the fact that the parasite has impaired digestion. The bird is growing intoxication. Metabolism is impaired, anemia occurs. Affected individuals begin to group together, their feathers becoming dull and disheveled. In the litter, the owner can detect a bloody impurity. The earrings and crest of the affected chickens acquire a whitish hue. In some chickens, cramps occur, a lesion of the central nervous system occurs. Without treatment, most of the birds die.
Diagnostics
Chicken eimeriosis is caused by unicellular microorganisms. A veterinarian can diagnose this disease both in vivo and posthumously. Feces are studied by the method of Darling or Fullebourne. Also make smears, scrapings from the intestines. If the bird has already died, the diagnosis is made posthumously. In a fallen chicken, scrapings from the intestinal mucosa are examined.
If it is impossible to pass tests to the laboratory, then the veterinarian makes a diagnosis based on the clinical picture. To do this, he takes into account the conditions of the bird, its age, season. When establishing a diagnosis, it is important not to confuse eimeriosis with other similar diseases: histomoniasis, spirochetosis, pullorosis.
Pathological changes
The bodies of dead chickens show signs of exhaustion. The feathers near the cesspool are dirty, they have traces of liquid feces and litter adhering to them. Perhaps the presence of bloody impurities. The comb and earrings of affected individuals have a whitish hue. The mucous membranes are either pale or cyanotic.
The most noticeable changes in internal organs. The stomach and goiter do not contain food, it is possible to find mucus in them. The walls of the duodenum are thick, inflamed, swollen. There are grayish nodules and pinpoint hemorrhages. The same picture is observed in the intestines. An ulceration of the serous membrane is also possible.
Treatment
The choice of therapy is determined by the veterinarian and depends on the form of the disease. What chemotherapy drugs are used to treat eimeriosis of chickens? Pharmcocidum, Lerbeck, Koktsidiovit. In no case should you self-medicate, as eimeria adapt over time to drugs and they no longer act on them.
Zoalen has proven its worth. It is given to chickens at the rate of 200 g per 1 ton of grain mixture. It can be treated with eimeriosis and sulfonamide drugs. For prevention, give “Ardilon” at 0.05 ml per 1 kg of feed. In order for the eimeria not to have time to adapt to the drugs, the funds must be periodically alternated.
Prevention
To improve the economy as a whole, measures must be taken. It is desirable to keep young growth separately from an adult bird. Crowding, poor ventilation, draft, dampness should not be allowed. Until the chicks are 60 days old, they are kept on a mesh floor. Litter must be cleaned in a timely manner. If the bird is sick in acute form, then it is necessary to immediately begin treatment of eimeriosis in chickens.
In broiler farms, with the threat of mass infection of chicks, chemical prophylaxis is used. Doses should be selected by a veterinarian in such a way that they do not affect the natural production of immunity.
The vaccine, which has recently been used in some farms, has proven itself well. It was recommended by the All-Russian Research Veterinary Institute of Poultry. The vaccine is used in farms unsuccessful for eimeriosis. Chickens are given a drug containing a large number of pathogens at a time. At the same time, they are treated according to the scheme for eimeriosis, which does not interfere with the formation of one's own immunity.
What other animals have eimeriosis?
This disease is found in animals and birds. Emeriosis can occur in both acute and chronic form. The most frequently infected with them are lambs aged 1 to 2 months. Eimeriosis is severe in small calves, but animals tolerate it asymptomatically for six months. In untreated rabbits, mortality from this disease can reach 100%.
From animals, pigs, minks, Arctic foxes, goats are also affected. Of the birds, ducks and geese are susceptible to eimeriosis. Moreover, in the latter, all pathogens are localized in the renal epithelium. There are cases of eimeriosis in cats and dogs.
Danger to humans?
There is no single answer to this question. Some doctors assume the likelihood of a person becoming infected through food and water. However, parasitologists say that there were no cases of infection of people with eimeriosis.
Veterinarian's advice
In order to prevent an epidemic of eimeriosis in your farm, you need to follow basic hygiene rules. If there are few birds on the farm, then with the correct content, the disease will not be able to penetrate the compound.
Any bird who has come to the farm should be quarantined. This will help to protect the farm not only from eimeriosis, but also from other dangerous diseases. Chickens need to be settled in another room and not allow any contact with their own bird. Individuals purchased should have their own care equipment, their bowls, their feeders. Caregivers at the entrance to the barn, where hens are quarantined, must change their shoes or wear shoe covers. This is done so that workers do not spread a possible infection throughout the farm.
If there are a lot of birds on the farm, then they are usually given prophylactically drugs that do not interfere with the development of natural immunity. The medication schedule should be a veterinarian. The disease has several variants of the pathogen, so the means that friends or acquaintances have advised may be ineffective.