A Study on Copro-Epidemiology of Poultry Coccidiosis in and Around Jimma Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia - Abstract
A Coprology based cross sectional study was conducted on poultry coccidiosis of local and exotic breed from April to June, 2018 in and around Jimma town, Oromia regional state, south western Ethiopia. A total of 367 faecal samples were collected from exotic and Indigenous breeds of chickens randomly, including both younger and adult age groups from different management system. Saturated solution of sugar was used as floating medium. Out of the 367 chicken examined, 119 were positive for coccidian parasites giving the overall prevalence of 32.4%. Among age groups, breed, sex, management system, hygienic status and medication history and vaccinated, higher prevalence was observed in young (48.8%), exotic chicken (36.4%), male (35%), and those with intensive management system (39.5%), poor hygienic status (37%) and not medicated (36%) and vaccinated (35.5%) respectively. Young chicken and those with intensive management, poor hygienic status, exotic breed and not medicated had higher risk of acquiring coccidiosis (P<0.05). Even though relatively higher prevalence of coccidiosis was recorded in the chicken that were vaccinated (34%) than non-vaccinated (30.5%), but no significant difference (P>0.05) was obtained. In conclusion, the present study showed that coccidiosis is an important disease of poultry and this warrant appropriate control strategies need to be designed in order to reduce the impact of poultry coccidiosis in the study area.