Coccidiosis
Cause - Nine species of coccidia (protozoan parasites)
spread through contaminated food, water or litter. Each species attacks a
different portion of the intestines or ceca, an intestinal appendage. It is
extremely difficult to isolate chickens from coccidia.
Symptoms - Signs of the disease will vary with the type of
coccidia involved and the degree of immunity the flock has to that type. General
indications are: decrease in food consumption; birds hunch backs, droop tails
and ruffle feathers. Diarrhea may start and the loose droppings may be bloody
(reddish brown). Following bloody diarrhea, mortality may increase
rapidly.
Post mortem results - In chickens less than 16 weeks old,
red specks on interior wall of intestines (in severe case, purple spots show
through exterior wall). Intestinal wall thicker than normal. Other signs: gray -
white streaks on wall of upper intestine, pink or reddish substance on
intestinal wall. In chicks (under nine weeks) ceca may be filled with blood and
swollen to the size of a finger. For birds older than 16 weeks, a lab test is
needed.
Treatment - If a confirmed outbreak among chickens one to
twelve weeks old is severe, treat immediately with locally recommended
coccidiostats.
Prevention - There are three ways to deal with
coccidiosis.
• Natural development of immunity - Allow the flock to
build immunity without administering any drugs unless there is a severe
outbreak. This works well when the flock is exposed only to low levels of
coccidia. Under very dry conditions, there may not be enough infection present
to develop immunity. In a very dry environment, sprinkle the litter with water
at weekly intervals to maintain a constant exposure and immunity level in the
flock. This may be necessary where a wellventilated poultry house is located in
an area where the humidity level of the outside air is consistently under 50
percent. Sudden, massive invasions of coccidia can hurt the flock severely, and
large doses of medication can prevent future immunity.
• Complete prevention - Give the flock the recommended
medium level of coccidiostat through its first 15 weeks. This most likely will
prevent the birds from contracting coccidiosis at all, but they won't develop
immunity either. Use this method only for broilers and for layers that will be
kept in wire cages.
• Immunity plus treatment - Use the low - level dosage
recommended during the first 15 weeks. This should allow the birds to develop
some immunity, and they may not need any further attention. In case of a mild
outbreak, treat broilers and layers going to cages with the largest recommended
dosage. Treat layers that will be kept on litter with heavy doses only during
severe outbreaks so that they otherwise build up as much immunity as they can.
This method is the safest overall, and would be the best single recommendation
for small - and medium - sized flocks.
Coccidiostats - These drugs come in many forms, many
combinations and under many names, both generic and proprietary. It's a good
idea to switch from one type of drug to another each chicken cycle so that local
coccidia do not establish resistance to any particular one. Don't mix one with
another - it may be harmful. Follow manufacturer's directions closely.
Some effective coccidiostats are: amprolium; amprolium
plus ethopabate (not for laying chickens); arsenobenzine, stop use five days
before slaughter; glycarbylamide (not for laying chickens), stop use at least
four days before slaughter; dinitrodiphenyldisulfide; nicarbazin, stop use four
days before slaughter; aklomide, stop use at least five days before slaughter;
bithionol and methiotriazamide, stop use at least five days before slaughter;
3,5, dinitro - oToluamide (not for laying chickens); and sulfaquinoxaline. Other
drugs that can be used as coccidiostats, though not as effective as those above,
include: terraymicin, nidrafur, agribon, 3 - Nitro, NF - 180 - furazolidone,
nitrofurazone, phthalysulfacetamide (TSC), and sulfaethoxypyridazine
(SEZ).
spread through contaminated food, water or litter. Each species attacks a
different portion of the intestines or ceca, an intestinal appendage. It is
extremely difficult to isolate chickens from coccidia.
Symptoms - Signs of the disease will vary with the type of
coccidia involved and the degree of immunity the flock has to that type. General
indications are: decrease in food consumption; birds hunch backs, droop tails
and ruffle feathers. Diarrhea may start and the loose droppings may be bloody
(reddish brown). Following bloody diarrhea, mortality may increase
rapidly.
Post mortem results - In chickens less than 16 weeks old,
red specks on interior wall of intestines (in severe case, purple spots show
through exterior wall). Intestinal wall thicker than normal. Other signs: gray -
white streaks on wall of upper intestine, pink or reddish substance on
intestinal wall. In chicks (under nine weeks) ceca may be filled with blood and
swollen to the size of a finger. For birds older than 16 weeks, a lab test is
needed.
Treatment - If a confirmed outbreak among chickens one to
twelve weeks old is severe, treat immediately with locally recommended
coccidiostats.
Prevention - There are three ways to deal with
coccidiosis.
• Natural development of immunity - Allow the flock to
build immunity without administering any drugs unless there is a severe
outbreak. This works well when the flock is exposed only to low levels of
coccidia. Under very dry conditions, there may not be enough infection present
to develop immunity. In a very dry environment, sprinkle the litter with water
at weekly intervals to maintain a constant exposure and immunity level in the
flock. This may be necessary where a wellventilated poultry house is located in
an area where the humidity level of the outside air is consistently under 50
percent. Sudden, massive invasions of coccidia can hurt the flock severely, and
large doses of medication can prevent future immunity.
• Complete prevention - Give the flock the recommended
medium level of coccidiostat through its first 15 weeks. This most likely will
prevent the birds from contracting coccidiosis at all, but they won't develop
immunity either. Use this method only for broilers and for layers that will be
kept in wire cages.
• Immunity plus treatment - Use the low - level dosage
recommended during the first 15 weeks. This should allow the birds to develop
some immunity, and they may not need any further attention. In case of a mild
outbreak, treat broilers and layers going to cages with the largest recommended
dosage. Treat layers that will be kept on litter with heavy doses only during
severe outbreaks so that they otherwise build up as much immunity as they can.
This method is the safest overall, and would be the best single recommendation
for small - and medium - sized flocks.
Coccidiostats - These drugs come in many forms, many
combinations and under many names, both generic and proprietary. It's a good
idea to switch from one type of drug to another each chicken cycle so that local
coccidia do not establish resistance to any particular one. Don't mix one with
another - it may be harmful. Follow manufacturer's directions closely.
Some effective coccidiostats are: amprolium; amprolium
plus ethopabate (not for laying chickens); arsenobenzine, stop use five days
before slaughter; glycarbylamide (not for laying chickens), stop use at least
four days before slaughter; dinitrodiphenyldisulfide; nicarbazin, stop use four
days before slaughter; aklomide, stop use at least five days before slaughter;
bithionol and methiotriazamide, stop use at least five days before slaughter;
3,5, dinitro - oToluamide (not for laying chickens); and sulfaquinoxaline. Other
drugs that can be used as coccidiostats, though not as effective as those above,
include: terraymicin, nidrafur, agribon, 3 - Nitro, NF - 180 - furazolidone,
nitrofurazone, phthalysulfacetamide (TSC), and sulfaethoxypyridazine
(SEZ).