Contributed Papers: Oral Presentations
Pathology |
The comparison
and validation of methods for monitoring coccidiosis
in broilers
Authors
C. Loots1, B. Gummow2, C.D. Le Roux3
1. Schering-Plough (Pty) Ltd 2. University of Pretoria,
Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department Production
Animal Studies 3. Namajaca broiler breeders
Coccidiosis
is an ubiquitous disease of poultry and of extreme
economic importance. In an attempt to control the
disease various methods have been used to monitor
it.
The objective
of this study was to determine the correlation of
different monitoring methods in experimental coccidiosis.
Six hundred and eight male chicks were raised in an
environmentally controlled facility. The effect of
various doses of Eimeria maxima and thus severity
of infection was assessed by comparing microscopic
lesion scoring (MLS), gross lesion scoring (GLS),
faecal oocyst counts (FOC), litter oocyst counts (LOC),
feed conversion ratio, and body weight gain at days
10, 14, 21, 28 and 42 of age. MLS was performed both
manually and with an image analyzer.
A negative
correlation was found between the median GLS and the
log functions of FOC and LOC. A very strong positive
correlation (0.81) was seen between the median MLS
and the log functions of FOC and LOC. No significant
differences were found between the FCRs of the chicks
receiving various oocyst doses. With a correlation
of 0.987, there was no statistically significant difference
between the manual and image analyzer MLS methods.
