Investigation of the prevalence of coccidiosis in broiler chicken farms in Mazar-e-sharif city

Abstract

Coccidiosis is a major parasitic disease affecting poultry production worldwide and has been reported in most countries with varying prevalence rates. This disease is caused by various species of Eimeria parasites, which primarily damage different parts of the chicken’s intestines. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of coccidiosis in poultry farms located in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan. A total of 18 poultry farms were examined through clinical observation and laboratory diagnosis. The results revealed that 16.4% of the farms had chickens infected with coccidiosis, indicating a relatively low of infection in the region. Chickens between 2 to 8 weeks of age exhibited the highest infection rates. Seasonally, the highest prevalence was recorded during winter (40.7%), while the lowest was observed in summer (11%) And male chickens showed more contamination than female. These findings highlight that need for improved management and preventive measures to control the spread of coccidiosis in local poultry production systems.