Prevalence study of Eimeria species in broilers and layer chickens in Tehran and Alborz provinces

Coccidiosis is an enteric disease that produces by Eimeria protozoa (phylum: Apicomplexa). It is the most important disease in poultry in the world. Survey on distribution of Eimeria species requires continuous study in poultry flocks. In this study, prevalence of Eimeria species in litter of broilers and layer farms in Tehran and Alborz provinces were carried out. Litter samples, including: 354 broiler and 282 laying flocks with a number of suspected chickens with pre-clinical symptoms were collected to examine gross and lesions in carcass. Oocytes were separated from feacal samples and analyzed morphologically. The results showed three species of Eimeria including: tenella, maxima and acervulina in broiler with amount of 25. 55%, 31. 39% and 14. 77%, respectively, and in poulet in addition to these three species mentioned above, the Eimeria necatrix with amount of 21. 51%، 20. 64%، 8. 33% and 1. 03% respectively. These results showed, in addition to the use of anti- coccidiosis drugs, the use of vaccine, based on the dominant species seems essential in this area.