Epidemiological Survey on Post Mortem Coccidiosis in Broiler Chicken in Bejaia Province, Northern Algeria

• Published in: Acta parasitologica Vol. 69; no. 1; pp. 791 - 802
• Main Authors: Benabdelhak, Amira Chahrazad, Derbak, Hanane, Titouah, Hanane, Aissanou, Sofiane, Debbou-Iouknane, Nedjima, Ayad, Abdelhanine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-03-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Algeria - epidemiology; Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Chickens; Chickens - parasitology; Coccidiosis; Coccidiosis - epidemiology; Coccidiosis - parasitology; Coccidiosis - veterinary; Duodenum; Ecology; Eimeria; Eimeria - classification; Eimeria - isolation & purification; Epidemiology; Epithelium; Ileum; Intestine; Intestines - parasitology; Intestines - pathology; Jejunum; Medical Microbiology; Microbiology; Original Paper; Oxidative Stress; Parameters; Parasites; Parasitology; Poultry; Poultry Diseases - epidemiology; Poultry Diseases - parasitology; Poultry farming; Prevalence; Seasons; Segments; Surveys; Algeria; Broilers chickens; Prevalence; Intestine histomorphometry; Postmortem; Algeria; Oxidative status; Coccidiosis
• ISSN: 1230-2821; 1896-1851; 1896-1851
• DOI: 10.1007/s11686-024-00806-1

Aim
The epidemiological survey was carried out to determine the prevalence of eimeriosis in broiler chickens slaughtered depending the season, to determine the different
Eimeria
species causing the coccidiosis in poultry farms; and to assess the impact of
Eimeria
parasite on histomorphological structure and oxidative stress parameters of the intestine.
Materials and Methods
The study was conducted from December 2018 to December 2019 in the province of Bejaia, Algeria. The intestines chickens (
n
 = 366) were obtained immediately after slaughter, each cut into different segments (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and caecum). Microscopic and parasitological examinations were performed according to standard procedures. Histomorphometric measurements of intestine were obtained using Image J software. Oxidative stress parameters were carried out from intestine tissue.
Results
Eimeria
spp. were detected in 73.77% (95% CI 71.20–76.34) of broiler gut samples. The prevalence varied significantly according to the season, with the lowest rates in winter (42.81%, 95% CI 40.35–45.27) and the highest in autumn (97.92%, 95% CI 97.6–99.4). All seven Eimeria species were identified, most commonly
E. necatrix
(27.70%),
E. brunetti
(26.47%), and
E. tenella
(20.96%). The mean lesion score ranged from 1.51 ± 0.05 to 1.79 ± 0.04. Significant differences in VH/CD ratio of intestinal epithelium (
P
 < 0.001) were observed in different intestinal portions of infested broiler chickens compared to non-infested. The mean MDA concentration of intestinal segments was significantly higher in
Eimeria
species infested broilers compared to non-infested (
P
 < 0.05). The results show at least one difference in CAT, SOD, and ABTS
−+
concentrations (
P
 < 0.05) in both chicken’s groups.
Conclusion
Our results revealed that coccidiosis is extremely prevalent in slaughtered broilers, with an abundance of pathogenic
Eimeria
species. Also, it was concluded that infestation induces tissue structure alterations which coincides with the oxidative damage.