eimeria prevention by hipra logo transparent background
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • Blog
  • Videos
  • Library
  • Calculators
  • FAQ’s
Menu
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • Blog
  • Videos
  • Library
  • Calculators
  • FAQ’s
Search
Close

Do not confuse the symptoms of coccidiosis in chickens with necrotic enteritis!

  • October 29, 2020
Share on TwitterShare on Linkedin

The differential diagnosis of intestinal diseases in birds can often be complex. Therefore, it is necessary to know how to distinguish between the characteristic signs of each disease. The symptoms of coccidiosis in chickens and those of necrotic enteritis are apparently similar; hence, it is crucial to know how to differentiate them, and consequently to make the appropriate decisions for their control.

Symptoms of coccidiosis in chickens vs necrotic enteritisCoccidiosis or necrotic enteritis? Macroscopic diagnosis is often not easy.

 

In recent years, due to the increase in resistance to antibiotics, all sectors of the veterinary profession have had to limit their use as a prevention tool for certain pathologies.

In poultry farming, this fact has led to an increase in certain pathologies, such as necrotic enteritis.

For this reason, the problems caused by this disease have been ranked as one of the two main concerns of poultry producers and veterinarians, along with the symptoms produced by coccidiosis in chickens.

Previously, in this blog, the close relationship that both pathologies can have was discussed (April, 2019), being favoured the development of necrotic enteritis due to the previous or simultaneous presence of a clinical or subclinical coccidiosis (Porter et al., 1998).

However, the aetiology of both diseases differs greatly and, consequently, the way of treating each of them is different. Owing to this, differential diagnosis is highly important and special care must be taken to perform it correctly.

At field level, one of the most useful tools for the diagnosis of both diseases is the performance of necropsies to evaluate the lesions present in the gut level.

The pathological signs of those Eimeria spp. which cause coccidiosis have been described in previous posts (October 2016); these will be of great help in differentiating this disease from necrotic enteritis.

It is of particular interest to look at Eimeria maxima, since this species of Coccidia will be the one that can most commonly generate doubts in the differential diagnosis with Clostridium perfringens, the causal agent of necrotic enteritis.

 

Examination of the outer wall of the intestine

 

When starting the necropsy and externalising the gut of the bird, it is necessary to focus on the region corresponding to the duodenum and the mid-intestine, especially the latter, since it is where more confusion can be generated between the diagnosis of the symptoms of coccidiosis in chickens and necrotic enteritis.

For example, in the case of necrotic enteritis, a distended intestine is observed due to the presence of gas it contains, in addition to a thinning of the intestinal wall.

On the other hand, in the case of coccidiosis, this gas production will not exist in its pathological process. Furthermore, in the case of an infestation by Eimeria spp., the intestinal wall is usually thickened.

Another point to consider will be the petechiae that can be observed in the external part of the intestinal wall. If reddish dotting is observed, this sign may indicate that small haemorrhages are taking place at a considerable depth in the wall of the gut, corresponding to the replication foci of Eimeria spp oocysts.

Thickened intestinal wall Thickened intestinal wall and deep petechiae typical of E. maxima.

 

Examination of the mucosa and intestinal contents

 

By accessing the lumen of the intestine, we can also assess the thickness of the wall. If it is necrotic enteritis, we shall usually find a watery or pasty content in the lumen of the gut, coming from poorly digested feed, in addition to observing gas bubbles.

If the bird is affected by coccidiosis, as it could be seen externally, the thickness of the intestinal wall will be increased compared to the normal thickness, due to the inflammation produced.

The intestinal content can become mucous, creamy or bloody, depending on both the degree of severity and the species of Eimeria spp., in addition to an orange coloring in some cases (common in E. maxima).

In severe outbreaks of necrotic enteritis, it will be possible to observe a mucous surface characterised by a brownish colour and a very rough shape, similar to that of tree bark; this lesion is popularly called a “Turkish towel” (its appearance is also reminiscent of the rough surface of a towel).

Necrotic foci with haemorrhages, rough mucosa, and gas in a bowel affected by necrotic enteritisNecrotic foci with haemorrhages, rough mucosa, and gas in a bowel affected by necrotic enteritis.

 

Evaluation of specific intestinal lesions

 

At the level of intestinal mucosa lesions, to evaluate the degree of severity of the proliferation of Clostridium perfringens, it will be very useful to apply the lesion scoring of lesions developed by Lensing et al. (2010).

In this evaluation system, lesions are classified on a severity scale from 0 to 4, from lowest to highest incidence (4 corresponding to dead birds with symptoms). In this system, the number and size of necrosis foci present in the mucosa are analysed.

Lesions caused by Clostridium perfringens: Coccidiosis in chickensLesions caused by Clostridium perfringens, with necrosis foci and superficial petechiae.

 

It should be noted that, on occasions, it will be necessary to differentiate between the white lesions caused by replications of E. acervulina oocysts, which are more delimited and smaller in size, and those of necrotic enteritis, which are wider and with more diffuse limits.

When there is proliferation of C. perfringens, not only the aforementioned foci of necrosis, but also petechiae, can be found in the intestinal mucosa. Care must be taken not to confuse these petechiae, which are more superficial, with the deep ones produced by E. maxima.

In the case of coccidiosis, these will be characterised by being small and deep lesions (petechiae), of a dotted type that can even be observed through the intestinal wall (as previously mentioned). In the case of necrotic enteritis, the bloody lesions will be more extensive and superficial (haemorrhages).

 

Practice, practice and more practice

 

Apart from the diagnosis of lesions, there are other complementary techniques to check the status of the birds for each disease.

In the case of coccidiosis, the oocyst count in faeces and litter (April 2020)  can offer valuable information about the parasite load of the flock. Conversely, in the diagnosis of necrotic enteritis, a Gram stain of the mucosal scraping or a bacterial culture will be useful.

Of course, the more frequently this differential diagnos is made between the signs of necrotic enteritis and the symptoms of coccidiosis in chickens. The more experience will be gained and the greater the likelihood of success in distinguishing between them.

Finally, it should be noted that immunisation against the different species of Eimeria spp. by using precocious attenuated vaccines will be a very useful tool for avoiding the symptoms of coccidiosis in chickens and, consequently, reducing the cause-effect relationship between coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis.

 

REFERENCES:

  • Johnson J., Reid W.M., 1970. Anticoccidial drugs: lesion scoring techniques in battery and floor-pen experiments with chickens. Exp. Parasitology 28(1): 30-6.
  • Lensing, M, JD van der Klis, T Fabri. A Cazemier, AJ Else, 2010. Efficacy of a lactylate on production performance and intestinal health of broilers during a subclinical Clostridium perfringens infection. Poultry Science 89:2401-2409.
  • Porter Jr. R. E., 1998.  Bacterial enteritides of poultry. Poultry Science, Volume 77, Issue 8, 1, Pages 1159–1165.
  • Timbermont L., Haesebrouck F., Ducatelle R. & Van Immerseel F.(2011) Necrotic enteritis in broilers: an updated review on the pathogenesis, Avian Pathology, 40:4, 341-347
Previous Post

Renewed app to give traceability to the vaccination process: another tool for coccidiosis prevention

Next Post

How to control Eimeria spp.? A field experience in Argentina

Related Posts

Taking advantage of qPCR when a coccidiosis vaccine for chickens is used

Taking advantage of qPCR when a coccidiosis vaccine for chickens is used

29 January, 2021

There is a large number of species of the Eimeria parasite that cause coccidiosis disease, both in birds of the...

Uniformity as a key concept when talking about coccidiosis in chickens

Uniformity as a key concept when talking about coccidiosis in chickens

23 December, 2020

In poultry production, there are multiple zootechnical parameters that are constantly evaluated in order to ensure that the full productive...

Blog Categories

  • Coccidiosis in Chickens
  • Coccidiosis prevention
  • Coccidiosis Treatment
  • Eimeria
  • Eimeria Tenella
  • Oocyst
  • Symptoms of Coccidiosis in Chickens
NEWSLETTER
DON'T MISS ANY UPDATES

I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy and Basic information on Data Protection

Library

Check latests documents

Calculator

Tools to prevent Eimeria

FAQ's

Facts you should know

Next Post
How to control Eimeria spp.? A field experience in Argentina

How to control Eimeria spp.? A field experience in Argentina

eimeria prevention by hipra logo transparent background

Categories

  • Coccidiosis in Chickens
  • Coccidiosis Treatment
  • Eimeria
  • Eimeria Tenella
  • Oocyst

Pages

  • Blog
  • Videos
  • Library
  • Calculators
  • FAQ’s

hipra

HIPRA 2021 All rights reserved

  • COOKIES POLICY
  • TERMS OF USE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
Menu
  • COOKIES POLICY
  • TERMS OF USE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
Basic Personal Data Protection information:

Controller: LABORATORIOS HIPRA, S.A.
Purposes: Managing the contractual and/or business relationship with HIPRA, including sending news, promotions and invitations to events sponsored by HIPRA.
Lawful basis: Performance of the contractual relationship and HIPRA's legitimate Interest.
Recipients: Third parties to which HIPRA has entrusted cloud computing, security, auditing, mailing, technical and computer support services, as well as companies in its group.
Rights: Request access to and rectification or erasure of personal data and other rights as explained in the additional information. You can seeview the detailed additional information about data protection in our Privacy Policy.

For further information, please check our detailed information on Data Protection.
close-link
NEWSLETTER
DON'T MISS ANY UPDATES
Basic Personal Data Protection information:
Controller: LABORATORIOS HIPRA, S.A.
Purposes: Managing the contractual and/or business relationship with HIPRA, including sending news, promotions and invitations to events sponsored by HIPRA.
Lawful basis: Performance of the contractual relationship and HIPRA's legitimate Interest.Recipients: Third parties to which HIPRA has entrusted cloud computing, security, auditing, mailing, technical and computer support services, as well as companies in its group.
Rights: Request access to and rectification or erasure of personal data and other rights as explained in the additional information. You can seeview the detailed additional information about data protection in our Privacy Policy.

For further information, please check our detailed information on Data Protection.
I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy and Basic information on Data Protection.
cross icon to banners and popup
This website uses its own cookies and those of third parties to improve our services and navigation. By clicking on Accept you consent our use of all these cookies. You can also opt to change your settings. For more information, see our cookie policy. Read More

ACCEPT ALL COOKIES Cookie settings
Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
Domain: .eimeriaprevention.com
Description: This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category ''Necessary''.
Duration: 1 years 1 days 1 hours
Type: Necessary

__cfduid
Domain: .freegeoip.live
Description: The cookie is used by cdn services like CloudFare to identify individual clients behind a shared IP address and apply security settings on a per-client basis. It does not correspond to any user ID in the web application and does not store any personally identifiable information.
Duration: 1 years 30 days
Type: Necessary

cookielawinfo-checkbox-non-necessary
Domain: eimeriaprevention.com
Description: This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category ''Non-necessary''.br /> Duration: 1 years 19 days 15 hours 19 minutes
Type: Necessary

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

_ga
Domain: .eimeriaprevention.com
Description: This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to calculate visitor, session, campaign data and keep track of site usage for the site''s analytics report. The cookies store information anonymously and assign a randomly generated number to identify unique visitors.
Duration: 1 years 20 days 8 hours 50 minutes
Type: Analytics

_gid
Domain: eimeriaprevention.com
Description: This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to store information of how visitors use a website and helps in creating an analytics report of how the wbsite is doing. The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages viisted in an anonymous form.
Duration: 1 years 19 days 15 hours 21 minutes
Type: Analytics

_gat
Domain: eimeriaprevention.com
Description: This cookies is installed by Google Universal Analytics to throttle the request rate to limit the colllection of data on high traffic sites.
Duration: 1 years 19 days 15 hours 19 minutes
Type: Performance

Website for veterinarians

The contents of this website are aimed exclusively at prescribing veterinarians. By clicking on ACCEPT you state that you are a veterinary professional. In other case, please contact a veterinarian and click on DECLINE.

Accept
Decline