Molecular characterization of Eimeria spp. from chicken by Polymerase Chain Reaction based on species-specific SCAR markers

Abstract

Coccidiosis in chickens is one of the major problems of poultry industry that is caused by protozoan parasites of genus Eimeria . Present study was conducted to characterize the Eimeria species infecting poultry in different regions of Chittagong district of Bangladesh. Seven species of Eimeria including E. tenella, E. necatrix, E. acervulina, E. maxima, E. brunetti, E. mitis, and E. praecox have been characterized using conventional PCR analysis through amplifying unique single copy sequences derived from sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers. The present study is the first of its type to use molecular tools to identify Eimeria spp. infecting chicken in Bangladesh. The study indicates that the modern molecular technique involving PCR to detect the Eimeria species are more reliable and accurate than the traditional morphology-based technique.