Effective measures to control eimeriosis in poultry in the Republic of Dagestan

The most common disease of young poultry in commercial farms of the Russian Caspian region is eimeriosis. In most cases, after convalescence from coccidiosis caused by one of Eimeria species poultry remains susceptible to other species. This parasite has a very short life cycle and immense reproductive capacity that is why it can cause large-scale outbreaks of the disease in commercial poultry houses. To control avian eimeriosis, various coccidiostats are used in combination with probiotics and vitamins. Frequent and long-term use of the same drugs against this infection can potentially result in the emergence of resistant Eimeria populations. This suggests that this coccidiosis control requires rotation of eimeriocidal drugs. Studies on eimeriosis prevalence were performed in the laboratory of the Caspian Regional Research Veterinary Institute and in different poultry farms of the Republic of Dagestan. Swabs of the floor, litter, equipment, droppings, feedstuffs, cecum smears from dead poultry were used for testing. High infection rate with eimerias was established in floor-housed poultry in the plain and piedmont zones of the Republic (Khasavyurtovsky and Karabudakhkentsky raions), where the infection rates were 81.6 and 82.4%, respectively. In batter-cage system poultry farms of the mountain and mountain valley zones (Khunzakhsky and Gergebilsky raions) the infection rates were significantly lower – 61.2 and 58.0%, respectively. The comparative efficacy study of two eimeriocidal drugs showed that “Robenidine”, used daily from the first day of life during the entire rearing period at a dose of 33 g per 1 ton of feedstuffs controls coccidiosis in poultry. At the same time, the survival rate of the experimental young poultry during the observation period was 98.0% compared with “Sarucoxum 12%” group (96.7%).