Occurrence of coccidiosis in chicken from Puducherry

A total of 200 chicken intestines, which included (n150) broilers and (n 50) desi birds were collected from different locations of Puducherry. The faecal samples were examined both qualitatively and quantitatively for oocyst of Eimeria spp. Out of 200 intestinal samples, 60 samples were found positive for Eimeria spp. by qualitative examination. Following quantitative examination by McMaster Technique, the highest OPG (oocyst per gram) detected was 1,95,900 and the lowest OPG was 3800. The occurrence of Eimeria in chicken from Puducherry was 30 per cent. The overall Eimeria infection in broilers and desi birds was 30.66 per cent and 28 per cent, respectively. Examination of hemorrhagic and nodular lesions in GI tracts of both broilers and desi birds revealed the presence of oocysts of Eimeria either in caecal or intestinal forms. Histopathology studies revealed the presence of developing and developmental stages of Eimeria in the lamina propria, characterised by desquamation of enterocytes, as well as in the epithelial cells and submucosal cells, with massive infiltration of heterophils and mononuclear cells. Besides haemorrhages, degeneration and desquamation of cells, mild to moderate with lymphoid hyperplasia was observed.