Coccidiosis in chickens is quite common, especially in large poultry farms. The disease affects young animals, the mortality rate of which can reach 80% of the total mass of livestock. In economic terms, such losses are extremely inappropriate. How to prevent the disease and protect the economy - full instructions in the article.
Etiology
The causative agent of this pathology is the simplest unicellular called coccidia. In chickens, the disease provokes more than 10 varieties of the parasite, among which the most pathogenic:
- Eimeria tenella - affects the blind processes of the intestine;
- E. Necatrix, E. Brunette, E. Maxima - affect the small intestine, as well as the rectum and cesspool;
- when such weakly virulent eimeria as E. Mitis, E. Praecox get in, the disease has a chronic course.
One bird can be simultaneously infected with different types of coccidia.
Young people under the age of one and a half months are most susceptible to the disease, less often - up to six months. The disease is acute, in severe form, mortality in chickens can reach 80-100%.
An adult bird, although infected with coccidiosis, but clinically this does not manifest itself, there may be a decrease in productivity and egg production. In chickens - broilers, the weight gain is reduced.
All breeds of chickens are susceptible to coccidiosis.
Causes of infection
Often coccidiosis occurs in farms where sanitary and hygienic standards are grossly violated in the spring and summer. Coccidia enter the body of a bird with food or water.
Factors for infection are:
- sick chickens, newly ill young animals, adult carrier chickens;
- poor diet;
- increased temperature in the chicken coop;
- high humidity, dampness;
- grass used as feed infected with coccidia oocysts;
- contaminated soil in enclosures for walking;
- infected, not cleaned litter in the chicken house in a timely manner;
- contaminated equipment, staff replacements and utensils;
- oocysts can spread rodents, insects.
Coccidia are very stable in the environment, can maintain invasive properties for up to 1 year.
With different methods of keeping chickens
Newborn chickens contained on the floor, become infected by contacting surfaces contaminated with coccidia, or through food. Diagnose the disease after 10-14 days, less often within 3-4 weeks after infection, depending on the following factors:
- the state of the immune system at the time of infection;
- age
- varieties of the parasite and its degree of virulence.
The course of the disease is characterized as severe, there is a high death of chickens.
At 2 months of ageif the bird was previously kept in cages, and then released to the floor - coccidiosis infection begins on the 5-10th day, reaching a peak in 3 weeks. This suggests that the bird did not encounter the pathogen earlier and did not manage to acquire immunity. The course of the disease is mild.
It follows that the cellular content, with proper care and proper sanitary condition in the house, is more appropriate than the floor.
Stages and symptoms of coccidiosis in chickens
Coccidia have a complex development cycle. The clinical manifestations of the disease vary, depending on the stage of their development in the bird's body:
First stage
It is characterized by the penetration of eimeria into the submucous membrane of the intestine, where they begin reproduction. The period lasts about 5 days, during which the parasite destroys the intestinal tissue, causing bleeding and an inflammatory reaction.
The initial stage may end in different scenarios:
- In the case of the correct functioning of the body's immune forces, the bird is ill in a mild form with few symptoms (abortive form). There is a suppression of vital activity of coccidia and complete recovery.
- At low levels of immunity, active reproduction of eimeria occurs, followed by the spread of the parasite to other organs. Next, the transition to the next stage.
Second stage
During the second stage, the manifestation of clinical signs occurs. The stage lasts approximately 7 days. Intestinal activity is disturbed, nutrients cease to be absorbed and enter the bloodstream. The reason for this is damage to the mucosa in large areas.
The body increases energy costs for life, increases bleeding and anemia begins to develop.
The above changes serve as a favorable environment for the development of opportunistic microorganisms - E. coli, cocci.
Chickens with coccidiosis, against a background of reduced immunity, can simultaneously suffer from various bacterial infections.
Then there is a complete metabolic disorder, the intake of nutrients into the body ceases.
The nervous system is involved in the pathological process. In chickens, neurological abnormalities are observed - gait disturbance, accompanied by loss of balance, paresis of limbs and disorientation.
The toxic products of Aimeria activity intensely enter the bloodstream, causing severe intoxication - the state of the bird deteriorates sharply, the following symptoms are observed:
- general weakness - young growth is disheveled, most of the time is spent sitting;
- complete rejection of feed, rapid emaciation;
- pallor of visible mucous membranes is noted;
- diarrhea, feces in various shades;
- depressed state.
In severe cases, the disease ends with the death of a bird; in less severe cases, the next stage begins.
Third stage
The third stage is characterized by a weakening of the negative effects of coccidia on the body, suppression of their vital functions and a gradual recovery. At this stage, bleeding in the intestine ceases, blood formation normalizes.
There is a danger of death of the bird due to dystrophic changes.
Fourth stage
In the fourth stage, a complete restoration of immunity and metabolic processes is noted. The work of the intestines and organs is getting better, appetite and digestion are normalizing.
We also recommend that you read an article that tells about other diseases of chickens.
For those who are easier to perceive information by ear, we recommend the following video, in which the specialist will talk in detail about coccidiosis in chickens:
Diagnostics
For a full diagnosis of coccidiosis, complex studies are used, which include:
- epizootological picture;
- clinical manifestations;
- pathological changes;
- laboratory data that show the presence of eimeria at different stages of its development in feces.
Coccidiosis is differentiated from borreliosis, histomonosis, pullorosis and trichomoniasis (in infectious diseases, birds of all age groups die, which is not observed with coccidiosis).
Drugs for the treatment and prevention of coccidiosis
The medicines described below are used exclusively for the repair of young animals and broiler chickens. The use of egg breeds in adult birds is prohibited - the preparations are laid in the eggs.
A variety of drugs with anticoccidial properties are divided into 2 types.
Means used directly for the treatment of coccidiosis:
- Baykoks is a veterinary drug that has a pronounced effect against pathogens of coccidiosis in chickens. It is used to identify the first symptoms by mixing the drug with water in a dose of 1 ml of 2.5% Baycox per 1 ml of liquid (28 ml of the drug is used per 100 kg of live weight). The bird is soldered within 2 days. In severe cases, the disease is repeated after 5 days.
- Amprolium 30%. Apply, starting from 3 days of age, mixing with food or water. The daily dose is 400 g of the drug per 500 liters of water (250 mg per 1 liter), which is used for 7 days to treat coccidiosis.
It is important to prepare a fresh solution daily.
For mixing with food use a preventive dose of 400 g / 1 ton. And 850 g / 1 ton - as a therapeutic dosage for 10 days.
Medicines that use as a preventative measure. The bird receives the drug daily (5 days before the alleged slaughter, the drug is stopped giving). These include:
- Preparations in the form of granular powder, which have a wide spectrum of action against coccidia, suppressing the vital activity of the parasite at any stage of their development and protecting the livestock from mass infection. Apply: Avatek 15%, Koktsisan 12%, Tsigro 1% at the rate of 0.5 kg per 1 ton of finished feed, Cycostat 66 at a dosage of 33 g per 1 ton of feed.
- Liquid preparations that have a similar effect to the above, for example, Medicox. 8 ml of the drug is diluted in 100 ml of water.
The breeder shares his method of combating coccidiosis in chickens in his video below:
To prevent addiction to one active substance in large farms, it is recommended to alternate drugs monthly.
Prevention methods
The difficulty in carrying out prophylaxis is that:
- coccidium oocysts have high survival in changing environmental conditions;
- disinfectants used in veterinary medicine are often powerless - oocysts show strong resistance to them;
- eimeria reproduce very quickly.
The main measures for successful prevention:
- Before settling the birds, it is necessary to prepare the premises and equipment. To do this, it is necessary to treat the surface with boiling water or steam, a 7% ammonia solution is also suitable (after applying ammonia, it is necessary to ventilate the room for 3 hours after treatment, wash the drinkers and dishes).
- Young animals up to 2 months of age are recommended to be kept in isolation from the adult population.
- Cellular content of chickens under 8 weeks of age.
- Monitor the cleanliness and dryness of the litter in the chicken coop.
- Youngsters kept on bedding should receive chemoprophylactic drugs as a feed, starting at 10 days of age.
Of course, these recommendations will not completely solve the problem of coccidiosis in the economy, but they will significantly reduce the risk of global spread of parasites.
Due to the risk of getting used to coccidiostatics, coccidia vaccines have been developed - Koktsivak, Immukoks, Livakoks. The inconvenience in use is high cost, so they mainly vaccinate laying hens and repair young animals.
Coccidiosis is a common problem. Completely get rid of the parasite, although it is not possible, but maintaining the correct sanitary and hygienic indicators in the forces of any farm. Compliance with the recommendations of a veterinarian and timely processing of premises is the key to high productivity and poultry health.