Prevalence of Eimeria Species in Free-Range Chickens of Villages of Khoy Suburbs, Iran

Eimeria infection in native chickens is common throughout the world and Iran, and causes remarkable infection in broiler chickens of the same geographic region. This study was aimed to determine prevalence and diversity of Eimeria species in native chickens of suburban villages of Khoy municipality, Iran. A total of 130 indigenous chickens from four geographic regions were sampled using cluster sampling method from summer 2013 to summer 2014. The intensity of infection was determined on the basis of Eimeria oocyst per gram of feces (OPG) using Clayton-Lane and McMaster methods. Eimeria species diversity and prevalence were also determined by using oocyst sporulation in 2% potassium dichromate. Of all examined native chickens, 28(21.53%) chickens were infected with Eimeria species. The highest prevalence was found in north part of the region (50%) with the highest intensity (5.66×102). There was a significant association between prevalence and geographic distribution in the infected regions. Of all examined native chickens, four Eimeria species were identified, i.e. E. necatrix (20%), E. tenella (24%), E. maxima (32%) and
E. acervulina (48%). Mixed infections with 2 (22%), 3 (16%) and 4 (6%) Eimeria species were also identified. The results of the current study elucidated that different Eimeria species were prevalent in native chickens of the suburban villages of Khoy municipality, which could be important in epidemiology of infection spreading to the neighboring broiler and broiler breeder farms of the region.