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Prevalence and risk factors for subclinical coccidiosis in broiler chicken farms in Mazandaran province, Iran

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Abstract

Coccidiosis is a disease of almost universal importance in Poultry production. The subclinical form of coccidiosis has most significant economic impact due to impaired growth rate and feed conversion. Some factors such as: age, size of flock, season, etc., may effect on severity of this disease. In this study, the relationships between some major risk factors and prevalence of subclinical coccidiosis were investigated. This study was done in 120 broiler farms in five different cities of Mazandaran province, north of Iran. Five chicks (3–8 weeks of ages) were taken randomly from every 120 farms and post-mortem and parasitological examinations were performed. Five Eimeria spp. were recognized: Eimeria tenella, Eimeria maxima, Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria brunetti, and Eimeria necatrix. The prevalence rate of subclinical coccidiosis among them is 75% (90 farms out of 120). E. acervulina was the most prevalent species (65.5%) followed by E. maxima (17.7%), E. tenella (15.5%), E. brunetti (10%), and E. necatrix (5.5%). According to what the results approve, the occurrence of subclinical coccidiosis is significantly related to the age and size of flock, whereas the other factors such as the season of year, industrial strains, chicken’s keeping system, and anticoccidial drugs do not affect this phenomenon remarkably.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to appreciate the experts and technicians of the Chief Veterinary Office of Mazandaran province for their help and cooperation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Avian Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

    Mohammad Reza Shirzad, Hamid Reza Gheisari, Bahman Abdi Hachesoo & Hasan Habibi

  2. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mazandaran, Amol, Iran

    Saeed Seifi

  3. Poultry Department of Mazandaran Central Veterinary Office, University of Mazandaran, Amol, Iran

    Hossein Bujmehrani

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  1. Mohammad Reza Shirzad
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  2. Saeed Seifi
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  3. Hamid Reza Gheisari
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  4. Bahman Abdi Hachesoo
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  5. Hasan Habibi
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  6. Hossein Bujmehrani
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Correspondence to Saeed Seifi.

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Shirzad, M.R., Seifi, S., Gheisari, H.R. et al. Prevalence and risk factors for subclinical coccidiosis in broiler chicken farms in Mazandaran province, Iran. Trop Anim Health Prod 43, 1601–1604 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-011-9876-3

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