1Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar, Dantiwada Agricultural University, S.K. Nagar - 385 506
2Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar, Dantiwada Agricultural University, S.K. Nagar - 385 506
3Livestock Research Station, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar, Dantiwada Agricultural University, S.K. Nagar - 385 506
Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Anand Agricultural University, Anand-388 001, India
*A part of M.V.Sc. thesis of first author.
Epidemiological surveillance based on examination of litter material from 318 farms and faecal droppings of 1911 birds in Anand district of Gujarat revealed the overall prevalence of coccidia as 20.44 and 17.27 per cent, respectively. Prevalence was higher in layers than the broilers, and also under deep litter system than the cage housing system among layers. Coccidiosis was confirmed as a primary cause of 60 per cent mortality on post-mortem examination of 195 morbid birds having caecal coccidia. Haemogram revealed a general feature of significantly (P<0.05) reduced haemoglobin, packed cell volume and total erythrocyte count and an increased total leukocyte count on account of coccidial infection irrespective of type of birds or system of rearing. Blood biochemical profile revealed significantly (P<0.01) higher blood glucose and serum total cholesterol and decreased serum total protein concentration due to coccidial infection in comparison to healthy birds. The AST, ALT and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were also higher in infected birds, but the changes were not significant.
Biochemical profile, Fowl coccidiosis, Haematology, Prevalence
