Histopathological and biochemical changes relating with lesion severity of coccidiosis in laying hens

Due to the paucity of reliable data on the pathogenic effects of coccidiosis on poultry in Waist province, which is in the middle of Iraq. Thus, the purpose of the current investigation was to identify the biochemical and histological alterations in laying hens infected with coccidiosis. This study was carried out on 120 laying hens during the period January to October 2020 in Waist province, canter of Iraq. The current study's findings showed that the concentrations of albumin, globulin, total cholesterol, and glucose gradually decreased in laying hens infected with coccidiosis. On the other hand, when compared to healthy controls, the active blood enzymes ALP, ALT and AST significantly increased. Besides, the current study found that the duodenum and jejunum cavities of hens afflicted with coccidiosis were clogged and filled with yellowish or greenish faeces that were very soft to the touch and had a lot of mucus exudate and mucosa became thicker and showed haemorrhagic patches in cases of severe disease. Additionally, the examination's histopathological results revealed a variety of pathological alterations, including desquamation, villi mucous membrane destruction and loss, villous epithelium necrosis, severe haemorrhages, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the lamina propria and submucosa.