Epidemiological Survey on Post Mortem Coccidiosis in Broiler Chicken in Bejaia Province, Northern Algeria

Amira Chahrazad Benabdelhak; Hanane Derbak; Hanane Titouah; Sofiane Aissanou; Nedjima Debbou-Iouknane; Abdelhanine Ayad

doi:10.1007/s11686-024-00806-1

Epidemiological Survey on Post Mortem Coccidiosis in Broiler Chicken in Bejaia Province, Northern Algeria

Acta Parasitol. 2024 Feb 29. doi: 10.1007/s11686-024-00806-1. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Amira Chahrazad Benabdelhak¹, Hanane Derbak¹, Hanane Titouah¹, Sofiane Aissanou¹, Nedjima Debbou-Iouknane¹, Abdelhanine Ayad²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biological Sciences of the Environment, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Université de Bejaia, 06000, Bejaia, Algeria.
² Department of Biological Sciences of the Environment, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Université de Bejaia, 06000, Bejaia, Algeria. abdelhanine.ayad@univ-bejaia.dz.

PMID: 38424401
DOI: 10.1007/s11686-024-00806-1

Abstract

Aim: The epidemiological survey was carried out to determine the prevalence of eimeriosis in broiler chickens slaughtered depending the season, to determine the different Eimeria species causing the coccidiosis in poultry farms; and to assess the impact of Eimeria parasite on histomorphological structure and oxidative stress parameters of the intestine.

Materials and methods: The study was conducted from December 2018 to December 2019 in the province of Bejaia, Algeria. The intestines chickens (n = 366) were obtained immediately after slaughter, each cut into different segments (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and caecum). Microscopic and parasitological examinations were performed according to standard procedures. Histomorphometric measurements of intestine were obtained using Image J software. Oxidative stress parameters were carried out from intestine tissue.

Results: Eimeria spp. were detected in 73.77% (95% CI 71.20-76.34) of broiler gut samples. The prevalence varied significantly according to the season, with the lowest rates in winter (42.81%, 95% CI 40.35-45.27) and the highest in autumn (97.92%, 95% CI 97.6-99.4). All seven Eimeria species were identified, most commonly E. necatrix (27.70%), E. brunetti (26.47%), and E. tenella (20.96%). The mean lesion score ranged from 1.51 ± 0.05 to 1.79 ± 0.04. Significant differences in VH/CD ratio of intestinal epithelium (P < 0.001) were observed in different intestinal portions of infested broiler chickens compared to non-infested. The mean MDA concentration of intestinal segments was significantly higher in Eimeria species infested broilers compared to non-infested (P < 0.05). The results show at least one difference in CAT, SOD, and ABTS^-+ concentrations (P < 0.05) in both chicken's groups.

Conclusion: Our results revealed that coccidiosis is extremely prevalent in slaughtered broilers, with an abundance of pathogenic Eimeria species. Also, it was concluded that infestation induces tissue structure alterations which coincides with the oxidative damage.

Keywords: Algeria; Broilers chickens; Coccidiosis; Intestine histomorphometry; Oxidative status; Postmortem; Prevalence.