Coccidiosis prevalence and correlation with intestinal health of broilers in Brazilian agricultural industries between the years 2012 and 2014

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between lesions caused by Eimeria and the prevalence of clinical and subclinical coccidiosis and other gastrointestinal disorders among broilers reared in Brazil from 2012 to 2014. Intestinal health was evaluated in 5,528 broilers from 82 poultry houses in Brazil in two phases: 1 (12 to 21 days) and 2 (22 to 40 days). Intestinal aspects, lesion scoring and oocyst count of E. maxima in the intestinal mucosa were analyzed. E. acervulina was the most prevalent (mean of 13.5%) species in both rearing phases followed by E. maxima (6.75%) and E. tenella (4.35%). There was a positive correlation of E. acervulina (p = 0.05) with thin intestinal walls and abnormal intestinal tonus in phases 1 and 2, as well as with ingestion of contaminated litter in phase 2. E. maxima showed a positive correlation (p = 0.05) with excess mucus, thickening or thinning of the intestinal walls in phase 1 and cell desquamation, excess fluid and Turkish towel appearance in phase 2. E. tenella showed a positive correlation (p = 0.05) with excess fluid in phases 1 and 2 and with thickening of the intestinal walls and lesions caused by E. maxima in phase 2. The microscopic detection of E. maxima (mean of 23.8%) was correlated (p = 0.05) with factors that negatively affect intestinal health. Subclinical coccidiosis affected 64.45% more broilers in phase 2 than in phase 1.