A survey of Eimeria species in native birds of Behbahan area, Khuzestan province

Coccidiosis is a serious diseases, that is caused by protozoan parasites of genus Eimeria. In thedomestic fowl of world nine Eimeria species have been identified: Eimeria tenella Eimeria brunetti,Eimeria maxima, Eimeria necatrix, Eimeria brunetti, Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria mitis, Eimeriamivati, Eimeria praecox and Eimeria hagani.In order to identify the different Eimeria species in native chickens of Behbahan, 100 facalsamples were examined using a modified Mc-Master method. The collected oocysts were counted ineach sample (OPG), Sporulated in potassium dichromate solution (2.5%) and identified on the basis ofmorphological characteres. The results showed 15 samples out of 100 (15%) were infected. Fivespecies including E. acervulina (80%), E. maxima (60%), E. brunetti (53.3%), E. tenella (33.3%) andE. Mitis (26.6%) were identified with mean OPG 17.76 × 103. Only one case out of 15 was infectedwith one species of Eimeria, and remainingwere infected, with 2 – 4 specieses of same genus ofparasites.Besides, regarding the Iranian villagers’ inclination for raising domestic birds and existence ofnumerous mostly-industrialized poultry farms throughout the country.

کلیدواژه ها:

Eimeria ، Coccidiosis ، Modified Mc-Master method ، Native birds