Detection of Eimeria Species in Naturally Infected Poultry using Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction in Chhattisgarh, India

Background: The present study was undertaken to detect the species of Eimeria in naturally infected poultry using multiplex PCR in organized and unorganized farms of four districts namely Bilaspur, Durg, Korba and Rajnandgaon in plain region of Chhattisgarh. Methods: Multiplex PCR was carried out using primer pairs of seven species and it revealed that there were only 1-3 species of Eimeria per farm and a total of 4 species were only detected in all 4 districts and these were E. acervulina, E. tenella, E. maxima and E. brunetti with the presence of 50.0%, 43.75%, 37.5% and 12.5% among infected farms, respectively. Result: These samples showed the highest incidence of E. acervulina and lowest incidence of E. brunetti. As per multiplex PCR, mixed infection was present in 37.5% farms and single infection was present in 56.25% farms.