Morphological and Molecular Identification of Eimeria spp. Infecting Broiler Chicken Farms in Iran

Introduction: The poultry industry in Iran plays a crucial role in the country’s economy and food security. However, it faces numerous challenges, including parasitic infections such as Eimeria spp. This study aims to provide a comprehensive morphological and molecular characterization of Eimeria spp. infecting broiler chickens in Iran. Materials & Methods: Fresh fecal samples were collected from chickens (۱۸–۴۵ days old) across ۱۴۹ farms located in various regions of Iran. The fecal samples were subjected to standard parasitological techniques, including flotation and sedimentation methods, to identify Eimeria oocysts. DNA was extracted from the oocysts, followed by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers targeting the ITS۱ gene of Eimeria spp.Results: Out of the ۱۴۹ poultry farms examined, ۵۹.۷% tested positive for Eimeria spp. Gheidar County showed the highest infection rate among the samples collected, standing at ۸۱.۸%.   Molecular methods can successfully prove the morphological studies. The prevalence of these species varied, with E. acervulina being the most common (۵۵.۷%) in Zanjan Province, followed by E. maxima (۴۸.۳%), E. mitis (۲۰.۱%), E. tenella (۲۰.۱%), and E. necatrix (۱۳.۴%). Mixed infections with two or more Eimeria species were found in ۶۴ out of ۱۰۳(۶۲.۱%) positive samples. The most prevalent combination was E. acervulina, E. maxima, present in ۲۳ out of ۱۰۱(۲۲.۳%) positive samples. Conclusion: Since vaccination is not currently employed to prevent coccidiosis in Iranian broiler production, the conclusions drawn from this study underscore the significance of implementing reliable chemoprophylactic control measures.

کلیدواژه ها:

Eimeria ، Molecular Characterization ، Iran