Seasonal Variations in the Incidence of Coccidiosis in Chickens (Gallus domesticus) in Borno State, Nigeria
Keywords:
eywords: Coccidiosis, Eimeria species, seasonal variation, poultry management, epidemiology
Abstract
AbstractThis longitudinal cross-sectional study investigated seasonal fluctuations in the incidence of coccidiosis in chickens (Gallus domesticus) across Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria, from October 2023 to September 2024. A total of 1,800 fecal samples were collected from households, farms, and live bird markets, complemented with post-mortem examinations. Standard parasitological techniques, including Sheather’s flotation and McMaster counting were employed. Overall, 52.8% (950/1,800) of chickens were positive for Eimeria oocysts, with prevalence and infection intensity showing significant seasonal variation (χ² = 57.71, p < 0.0001). The rainy season recorded the highest burden (72.9%, mean OPG = 24,740 ± 5,692), followed by transitional (48.3%) and dry seasons (34.4%). Site-specific prevalence was highest in intensively managed farms (78.5%), compared with markets (56.8%) and households (23.0%) (χ² = 376.7, p < 0.0001). Age- and sexstratified analysis revealed chicks and female birds were most susceptible, particularly during the wet season. This highlights the need for season-specific control measures, especially better litter management to reduce disease impact in poultry systems.
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References
References
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Sumo, L., Ndzingu, M., Echi, E.J.E., Fotsing,
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J.B., Giannenas, I. and Kyriazakis, I. (2022) Quantifying the effect of coccidiosis on broiler performance and infection outcomes in the presence and absence of control methods. Poultry Science, 101(4): 101746. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.101746.
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225 publisher.
Abdullahi, N., Abdulrahman, I.S., Abdulazeez, S.O., Ayuba, S.O., Odey, A.S., Adejoh, V.A. and Pam, A.V. (2023) Prevalence of avian coccidiosis and identification of Eimeria spp. in local broilers and chickens in Lafia Modern Market, Nassarawa State, Nigeria. EAS Journal of Parasitology and Infectious Diseases, 5(3): 23–35. Adeyemi, O.S., Olatoye, O.I. and Ogundipe, A.G. (2019) Knowledge, attitude and practices of coccidiosis in chickens by poultry farmers in Southwest Nigeria. Nigerian Veterinary Journal, 40(3): 218– 226. doi: 10.4314/nvj.v40i3.6.
Akanbi, O.B., Ola-Fadunsin, S.D., Odita, C.I., Furo, N.A., Yahaya, S. and Kemza, R. (2022) Eimeria infections among commercial laying chickens in Nigeria: prevalence and clinicohistopathological changes. Journal
of Parasitic Diseases, 46(3): 860– 868. doi: 10.1007/s12639-02201509-y.
Attree, E., Sanchez-Arsuaga, G., Jones, M., Xia, D., Marugan-Hernandez, V., Blake, D. and Tomley, F. (2021) Controlling the causative agents of coccidiosis in domestic chickens: an eye on the past and considerations for the future. CABI Agriculture and
Bioscience, 2: 37. doi:
10.1186/s43170-021-00056-5.
Babatunde, S.M., Mohammed, B.R., Simon, M.K. and Agbede, R.I.S. (2016) Coccidial infection in free-range and intensively managed chickens
in Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja-Nigeria, Sub-Saharan Africa. Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 51(2): 183– 188. doi: 10.5455/ajvs.220092.
Blake, D.P., Knox, J., Dehaeck, B., Huntington, B., Rathinam, T., Ravipati, V., Ayoade, S., Gilbert, W., Adebambo, A.O., Jatau, I.D., Raman, M., Parker, D., Rushton, J. and Tomley, F.M. (2020) Re-
calculating the cost of coccidiosis in chickens. Veterinary Research, 51(1): 115. doi: 10.1186/s13567020-00837-2.
Bora, C.A.F., Kumar, V.J.A. and
Mathivathani, C. (2024) Prevalence of avian coccidiosis in India: a review. Journal of Parasitic Diseases, 48(2): 181–188. doi: 10.1007/s12639-024-01661-7.
Boyko, O.O., Shendryk, L.I., Rudyk, V.S., Volovyk, I.A., Biben, I.A. and Brygadyrenko, V.V. (2021) Influence of temperature on sporulation of Eimeria arloingi and
Eimeria perforans oocysts. Regulatory Mechanisms in
Biosystems, 12(2): 369–373. doi: 10.15421/022150.
Das, M. (2021) Diversity of Eimeria species in backyard poultry of subtropical hilly region of Meghalaya, India. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 9(2): 360–365.
Kaboudi, K., Umar, S. and Munir, M.T. (2016) Prevalence of coccidiosis in freerange chicken in Sidi Thabet, Tunisia. Scientifica (Cairo), 2016:
7075195. doi:
10.1155/2016/7075195.
Ketema, E. and Fasil, N. (2019) Study on prevalence and associated risk factors of poultry coccidiosis in and around Alage at Vet College, Southwestern Ethiopia. Dairy and Veterinary Science Journal, 11(1):
555805. doi:
10.19080/JDVS.2019.11.555805.
Lawal, J.R., Jajere, S.M., Ibrahim, U.I.,
Geidam, Y.A., Gulani, I.A., Musa, G. and Ibekwe, B.U. (2016) Prevalence of coccidiosis among village and exotic breed of chickens in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Veterinary
World, 9(6): 653–659. doi:
10.14202/vetworld.2016.653-659.
Mesa-Pineda, C., Navarro-Ruíz, J.L., LópezOsorio, S., Chaparro-Gutiérrez, J.J. and Gómez-Osorio, L.M. (2021) Chicken coccidiosis: from the parasite lifecycle to control of the disease. Frontiers in Veterinary
Science, 8: 787653. doi:
10.3389/fvets.2021.787653.
Mohamed, S.E., Dyab, A.K., Mohamed, S.A. and Abd-Elrahman, S.M. (2021) Prevalence of coccidiosis in chicken in Sohage Governorate. Assiut Veterinary Medical Journal
67(171): 1–11. doi:
10.21608/avmj.2021.205152.
Mramba, R.P. and Mwantambo, P.A. (2024) The impact of management practices on the disease and mortality rates of broilers and layers kept by small-scale farmers in Dodoma urban district, Tanzania. Heliyon, 10(8): e29624. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29624.
Muhammed, S.M., Hussein, M.B., Sani, N.A., Wakawa, A.M., Sa’idu, L., Muhammed, A.G. and Lawal, M.O. (2022) Five years retrospective study on monthly, yearly and seasonal prevalence of avian coccidiosis diagnosed at the Avian Clinics of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. In: Securing Animal Agriculture Amidst Global Challenges. Proceedings of the Nigerian Society for Animal Production (NSAP) 47th Annual Conference, Jos, 13–17 March 2022, pp. 287–290.
Muñoz-Gómez, V., Furrer, R., Yin, J., Shaw,
A.P., Rasmussen, P. and Torgerson,
P.R. (2024) Prediction of coccidiosis prevalence in extensive backyard chickens in countries and regions of the Horn of Africa. Veterinary Parasitology, 327:
110143. doi:
10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110143.
Ola-Fadunsin, S.D., Uwabujo, P.I., Sanda, I.M., Hussain, K., Ganiyu, I.A., Rabiu, M. and Balogun, R.B. (2019) Cross-sectional study of Eimeria species of poultry in Kwara State, North-Central Nigeria. Journal of Parasitic Diseases, 43(1): 87–95.
doi: 10.1007/s12639-018-1062-3.
Soulsby, E.J.L. (1982) Helminths, Arthropods and Protozoa of Domesticated Animals (7th ed.). London: Bailliere Tindall. pp. 809.
Sumo, L., Ndzingu, M., Echi, E.J.E., Fotsing,
D., Djeunga, H.N. and Ntonifor, N.H. (2024) Prevalence and intensity of avian coccidiosis infection and associated risk factors in the Mezam Division, North-West
Region, Cameroon: An observational study. Journal of Cell and Animal Biology, 6(1): 1–10.
doi: 10.5897/JCAB2024.0475.
Taylor, J., Walk, C., Misiura, M., Sorbara,
J.B., Giannenas, I. and Kyriazakis, I. (2022) Quantifying the effect of coccidiosis on broiler performance and infection outcomes in the presence and absence of control methods. Poultry Science, 101(4): 101746. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.101746.
Usman, A.M., Victor, J.G. and Fidelis, A.V. (2022) Coccidiosis among local and exotic breed of chickens reared in Biu Local Government Area of Waziri, M. (2009) Spatial Pattern of Borno State, Nigeria. Jewel Journal Maiduguri City: Researchers’ of Scientific Research, 7(2): 249– Guide. Kano City: Adamu Joji
225 publisher.
Published
2026-01-29
How to Cite
Lawal, J. R1, Pindar, H. M2., Durkwa, H. U3., Kaka, A. A1., Umar, A. M1., Muktar, Y. H1., & Biu, A. A2. (2026). Seasonal Variations in the Incidence of Coccidiosis in Chickens (Gallus domesticus) in Borno State, Nigeria . Nigerian Journal of Animal Science and Technology (NJAST), 8(4), 181- 191. Retrieved from https://njast.com.ng/index.php/home/article/view/539
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