EXOone Eimeria acervulina

Description

Avian coccidiosis is caused by protozoa of Phylum Apicomplexa, fam. Eimeriidae. Although it affects several species of birds, it is in laying hens and broilers where it has the greatest impact. The disease occurs through the ingestion of sporulated oocysts.
E. acervulina, E. brunetti, E. maxima, E. mitis, E. necatrix, E. praecox and E. tenella, are accepted of being capable of infect Gallus gallus. Most of clinical outbreaks are due to mixed infections of several species of Eimeria and, therefore, lesions are observed in different areas of the intestine.
E. acervulina is associated with catarrhal duodenitis - mucosal diarrhea. Several punctate lesions that can fuse to form plates are observed. These lesions correspond with macrogametes and immature oocysts. After the release of these lesions, villi of duodenum are devoid of epithelial cells. Traditionally, diagnosis is made with the results of the complex evaluation of the clinical picture, macroscopic lesions (type and location), histological studies and flotation. Molecular techniques such as qPCR allow faster and more reliable detection.