Contributed Papers: Posters Pathology |
Association
between Coccidia and Intestinal Helmints in Broiler
Chickens
Mauricio De Franceschi1 and Hebe
Barrios2
1Departament of Tecnology, 2Departament of Basic Science.
Luján National University. Ruta Nacional 5
y Avenida Constitución. 6700. Luján
Argentina. sip@mail.unlu.edu.ar.
The highly intensive
systems in which commercial birds are reared favors
the simultaneous occurrence of many diseases. Coccidiosis
has a largeconomical importance and it has been studied
in combination with a great number of affections,
such as salmonellosis, Marek´s disease, Clostridium,
reovirus infections, tec.. Until now, the relationship
between the clinical coccidiosis and other intestinal
parasites was not studied. The objective of this study
was to demonstrate by monitoring of broiler chickens,
the relation between different clinical presentations
of coccidiosis and intestinal helminths. Between 1991
and 2001, we performed systematic and weekly diagnosis
of coccidiosis and helminthiasis in broiler farms
in the province of Buenos Aires. We collected 486
samples of 6 birds per house and farm. . The presence
of coccidia was investigated using the Serial Scraping
Method of the Intestinal Mucosa (SSMIM), whereas macroscopic
parasites were identified first. Out of the collected
samples, 80 % were positive for coccidiosis, out of
which47 % were subclinical,, 27 % clinical degree
1, and 60 % clinical degree 2 and 3. The ratios were
maintained relatively constant during the study. In
all analyzed samples, the duodenum was affected. The
other intestinal sections were always also involved.
Twenty five per cent of the farms were infected with
variable proportions of Ascaris, Heterakis, and tapeworms
during the 10 studied years, although the first half
of the period there was a higher frequency of findings.
The relationship between the presence of coccidia
and helminths was similar either in negative coccidiosis
cases or in any clinical presentation. Therefore,
the presence or absence of helminths was independent
from the diagnosis of coccidiosis. We concluded that,
during the studied period, there was a high prevalence
of coccidiosis, which was subclinical or mild (degree
1), being the latter more frequent. The duodenum was
affected in 100 % of the chickens, in which we found
possible predominance of Eimeria acervulina. On the
other hand we did not detect any relationship between
the macroscopic presentation of coccidiosis and intestinal
parasites.