Chicken And Geese Coccoidosis

Question 1

Eimeria clinical signs

Answer 1

Flock aging 3-6w / breeder 10-14w

• E. Tenella , E. necatrix , E. Brunetti: ACTUE anorexia, moribund appearance-soft feces WITH BLOOD. lathergy, ruffled fathers , loss of skin pigmentation, Dies within 1-2 days after first signs.
• Other species: droop watery diarrhrea, reduction weight , reduced egg production.
• Mild/sub-clinical infection is unnoticed.

Question 2

Parasitological diagnosis

Answer 2

1. Detection of unsporulated oocysts in feces sample and/with litter with floatation method.
   * only E. Maxima (large) the oocysts is characteristic for the sp.!
2. Other sp.: Sporulation time, size , shape , PCR isoenzymes pattern (not routine, usually only check the presence for unsporulated oocysts)
3. Oocysts counting (OPG) with McMaster method - independent of gut changes) - check quantity

Question 3

Necropsy

Answer 3

The most important ,
Identification is usually according to location and type of lesion.

1. scoring lesions of the intestine.
2. : main- microscopic study of scrapings of the intestinal mucosal membrane (unsporulated>schizonts)

Question 4

E. Tenella

Answer 4

1.Extensive hemorrhages in caecum:
Unclotted/partially clotted/clotted blood in lumen
2. Dilation/ thickening of the caecal wall- deep erosion of epithelium.
3. Schizons and free merozoites in smears of caecal mucousa
* Acute death without the presence of oocysts in the feces may occur!
* In longer-standing infections caseous material adheres to the mucosa.

Question 5

E. Necatrix

Answer 5

1. The wall of the jejunum and ileum (middle third) is haemorragic, thickened , swollen.
2. Unclotted blood in lumen + scattered white spots.
3. Large schozonts in scraping mucosa.

Question 6

E. Brunetti

Answer 6

1. Lower small intestine , prox. Caecum, colon , rectum, cloacae
2. Haemorragic, catarrhal exudate and coagulative necrosis of the mucosa, Petechiae in rectal’s villi - ladder appearance.

Question 7

E. Maxima

Answer 7

1. Mid-small intestine - inflammed, ballooned , slack
2. Mucosa is thickened, petechiae , orange/salmon pink exudate
3. Large yellowish oocyst or genlmatocytes in scrapings

Question 8

E. Acervulina

Answer 8

1. In duodenum + jejunum, VISIBLE discrete white foci/ transverse bands with ladder like appearance
2. Watery lumen content in heavily infected animals

Question 9

E. Mitis, E. Praecox

Answer 9

No macroscopic lesions

Question 10

Geese intestinal coccidiosis:

E. Anseris , E. Nocens

Answer 10

2-3 month old geese

1. Clinical signs: anorexia, polydypsia , weakness , unstable gait , profuse diarrhrea (death)
2. Diagnosis: detection of unsporulated oocysts in the feces (flotation)
3. Necroscopy: distention of the middle-lower third of the small intestine, filled with reddish brown fluid.
   Hyperaemic , catarrhal mucosa with hemorrhages, fibrinous- diphteroid entritis

Question 11

Geese renal coccidiosis:

E. Truncata

Answer 11

1. Clinic signs: acute: weakness, anorexia, diarrhrea , sunken eyes , vertigo , torticollis , lying supine, paralysis
2. Diagnosis; detection of unsporulated oocysts im feces (with floatation)
3. Necroscopy: enlarged kidneys , greyish-yellowish/ red-yellowish surface / cut surface , pinhead size greyish white foci (urate salts)
   * Histology: distended renal tubules , tubulonephrosis , intestinal nephritis

Question 12

Eimeria morphology

Answer 12

1. Unsporulated oocyst: zygote, a nucleated mass of protoplasm .
2. Sporulated oocyst: 4 sporocyst each containing 2 banana shaped sporozoites - residual body.
3. Merozoite - 5-10 microm, crescent shap
4. Scizont- up to 300 microm (macroschizont)

Question 13

Hemorrhagic types?

Answer 13

E. Teneella, E. Necatrix , E. Brunetii

Question 14

Eimeria’s life cycle

Answer 14

Unsporulated oocyst (zygote) => sporulated oocyst (4 sporocyst, each has 2 sporozoites , infectious) => ingested, enters the gut)=> excystation (sporocyst->sporozoites release) => sporozoites invade enterocytes=> trophozoites=> schizons (contain merozoites) => merozoites release (can either i. Attack othet enterocytes->trophozoites. ii. Male+female gamates-> unsporulated oocysts->shed in feces)