Characterization of Eimeria Species in Commercial Broilers by PCR Based on ITS1 Regions of rDNA

Coccidiosis is an intestinal disease of chickens caused by various species of proto­zoan parasites within the genus Eimeria. Diagnosis and genetic characterization of different spe­cies of Eimeria are central to the prevention, surveillance, and control of coccidiosis. The aim of this study was to detect different chicken Eimeria species from several areas in Khuzestan, south­west Iran. From February to September 2008, PCR assay as well as parasitological examinations was applied for the identification of field isolates of Eimeria parasites around Ahvaz, center of Khuzestan, southwest Iran. Data were analyzed by the Kappa statistic test. Eimeria maxima, E. necatrix, E. tenella, E. acervulina and E. mitis were detected in this study. The prevalence of Eimeria spp. was 31.5% (126 of 400) and E. tenella was the most preva­lent species in Khuzestan. Based on the Kappa statistical test, a good correlation between the results of PCR and traditional biometrical methods was only observed for E. maxima. The present study is the first on the prevalence of Eimeria species in Khuzestan, based on the molecular findings. We believe that traditional methods are not sufficiently reliable for specific diagnosis of Eimeria species in chickens and PCR based amplification of DNA se­quence of parasite, could resolve this problem.