Part 3 - Control of Coccidiosis

Victoria Roberts BVSc MRCVS

Disease background producing watery diarrhoea and

Coccidiosis is one of the most important poultry diseases high mortality.
worldwide and is ubiquitous, the only limit to the Duck : Tyzzeria perniciosa: producing mucoid, bloody
distribution of this disease is the distribution of the hosts. diarrhoea.
Sponsor Content Goose (mostly goslings): E. anseris, E.nocens producing
Cause and clinical signs mucoid, bloody diarrhoea.
A protozoal parasite which multiplies in the gut, specific to E. truncata parasitises the kidneys causing depression,
different hosts. Not all species of coccidia are harmful but emaciation, diarrhoea and high mortality.
there are five of the Eimeria species pathogenic to chickens, Pheasan t: E. colchici, E. duodenalis, E. phasiani, all cause
five in turkeys, three in geese, three in ducks and three in enteritis and mortality.
pheasants.
Dayold chicks do not get immunity from their mother. Birds
Enteritis (inflammation of the intestine) is present in all of any age are susceptible, but most acquire infection early
coccidia infections and usually accompanied by diarrhoea in life which gives them some immunity. Immunity is best
which may or may not have blood in it. Poor growth and kept strong by a low level of infection, which is what
impaired feed conversion is common and mortality can be happens on free-range. Birds kept or reared on litter are more
increased. at risk when the coccidia has conditions which suit it such as
wet litter. If the birds are also stressed by environmental
factors (cold, overcrowding, poor ventilation) then disease
results. The oocysts are very resistant to destruction, either
by disinfectants or by drying out and can survive for months
or years.
The species of coccidia have different areas of the gut which
they prefer, some producing the expected bloody diarrhoea,
some producing high levels of mucus, sometimes white
diarrhoea, and others stunting growth. Infection can show
from 3-6 weeks of age and infective oocysts can be
transported by people looking after the birds. Older birds can
become infected if either their immunity has been reduced
due to being kept on a wire floor (no access to droppings and
therefore no trickle infection) and then put onto litter, or if
environmental stressors reduce their immunity. The birds
generally look hunched and depressed with or without blood
Fig 1: Typical stance of a chick with coccidiosis
in the droppings.
Transmission Economic Impact
Parasitic phase: the infective oocyst (coccidia egg) is eaten This disease is very common and unless controlled has a
by the bird and then multiplies over about 7 days within the severe economic impact. Even low levels of infection cause
gut, thousands of new oocysts resulting from just one ill thrift and loss of production with increased mortality.
ingested oocyst. Diagnosis
Non-parasitic phase: excreted in the droppings, the oocysts Clinical signs plus a faecal sample containing oocysts and/or
then take 2 days to mature (ideal conditions 25-30ºC and post mortem where the intestines are dark purple and the
moist) before being ready for the next host to eat. laboratory finds stages of the coccidia in the lining of them.

There are three types of coccidia in chickens and this is

reflected in the other species:
High pathogenic coccidia in other species:
Turkey (especially poults): E. adenoeides, E. meleagrimitis,

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 providing trickle infection to boost immunity.
The only product currently licensed for treatment of a
coccidiosis outbreak in chickens is Baycox: this use is
restricted to broiler breeders on the data sheet (licence
details). Sulphonamides can be ordered from specialist
poultry veterinary practices. On a small scale and where
the birds do not enter the food chain, the pigeon product,
Coxoid, is used by fanciers and small-scale keepers. This
contains amprolium which used to be licensed for
chickens and has proved to be safe.
There are no products licensed for treatment in turkeys
and waterfowl but Coxoid has been used with success.
The coccidia life cycle is similar to chickens and the
oocysts persist in the ground for months or years. Certain
compounds are toxic and lethal to turkeys, particularly
the ionophores such as monensin, lasalocid, salinomicin,
narasin and maduramicin, therefore the label on the feed
Fig 2: Oocysts in a faecal sample bag must be checked to avoid these.
Temperatures above 56ºC and below freezing are lethal
to oocysts, as is desiccation. Oocysts can stay in sheds
despite disinfection unless a specific oocidal
("egg-killing") disinfectant is used.
Vaccination
By far the better treatment and prevention for chickens is
the vaccine, Paracox. This contains all seven species of
coccidia but these are weakened so that they cause the
chicken to mount an immune response but not to become
infected. As this is an industrial product it normally
comes in quantities to treat thousands of birds. Paracox is
available from PHS Pharmacy (01845 577907) with a
prescription, in 100 and 200 dose containers. Paracox
will be administered once as a solution from a dropper
bottle to a healthy dayold chick via its mouth. The
shelf-life of the product will be 4 weeks, so orders need
to be made with the monthly expected hatch in mind.
Any feed used for vaccinated birds should not contain
anticoccidial drugs as this will counteract the vaccine.
The vaccine can be used on unvaccinated chicks up to 9
days old but is most effective at dayold.

NADIS seeks to ensure that the

information contained within this document
Fig 3: Intestines with necrotic caeca is accurate at the time of printing.
Treatment However, subject to the operation of law
Anticoccidial drugs in the feed for only the first 6 weeks NADIS accepts no liability for loss, damage
of life which reduce but not eliminate the numbers of or injury howsoever caused or suffered
coccidia has been the norm in order to let the chicks have directly or indirectly in relation to
a low level of infection and therefore acquire immunity. information and opinions contained in or
Permitted drugs in feed are, however, being reduced on omitted from this document.
an annual basis across the board. Resistance to the To see the full range of NADIS
anticoccidial drugs has occured. livestock health bulletins please
Free-range reduces the incidence of disease while still

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visit www.nadis.org.uk

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