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Prevalence of Eimeria Species, Detected by ITS1-PCR Immobilized on FTA Cards, in Future Laying Hens and Breeding Hens in Six Provinces in Northeastern Algeria

Ayadi, Ouarda; Djemai, Samir; Hide, Geoff

Authors

Ouarda Ayadi

Samir Djemai



Abstract

Purpose
Avian coccidiosis is an important and widely distributed disease that affects global agricultural economies through losses. In Algeria, there is limited epidemiological and ecological knowledge about this disease and this hinders implementation of control strategies. A recent study, in Algeria, demonstrated a high prevalence and diversity of Eimeria species in broiler chickens. However, very little is known about the Eimeria species that exist on chicken farms raised on the floor and older than broiler chickens (for example, future laying hens and breeding hens) in Algeria.

Methods
Samples were collected from 32 poultry farms located in 6 northeastern Algerian provinces (Algiers, Batna, Bejaia, Bordj Bou Arréridj, Jijel, Mila). These included 22 pre-laying pullet farms, with hens aged between 11 and 17 weeks, and 10 breeding hen farms with older hens (over 20 weeks). FTA cards were used to capture DNA and internal transcribed Spacer 1 PCR (ITS1-PCR) was used to determine the prevalence and composition of Eimeria species in the chickens.

Results
This showed the presence of six species of Eimeria with a diverse prevalence range. Eimeria necatrix (63%) was the most common species, followed by E. maxima (53%), E. tenella (31%), E. brunetti (19%), E. acervulina and E. mitis (both 0.3%). Eimeria praecox was absent. Eimeria infection affected all farms studied where co-infections by different Eimeria species (63%) were more frequent than single infections (38%). The number of oocyts, per ml of enriched oocyst suspension was higher in breeding hen farms compared to pre-laying pullet farms.

Conclusion
This study, taken alongside a previous study involving broiler farms, demonstrated that the infection with this parasite is a significant problem in Algeria.

Citation

Ayadi, O., Djemai, S., & Hide, G. (2024). Prevalence of Eimeria Species, Detected by ITS1-PCR Immobilized on FTA Cards, in Future Laying Hens and Breeding Hens in Six Provinces in Northeastern Algeria. Acta parasitologica / Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-023-00773-z

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Dec 4, 2023
Publication Date Jan 5, 2024
Deposit Date Mar 15, 2024
Publicly Available Date Jan 6, 2025
Journal Acta Parasitologica
Print ISSN 1230-2821
Publisher De Gruyter
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-023-00773-z
Keywords Algeria, Poultry farms, Prevalence, Eimeria, ITS1-PCR, FTA cards