PREVALENCE AND DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF COCCIDIOSIS & NECROTIC ENTERITIS AMONG BROILER BIRDS REGISTERED AT KOTWALI THANA VETERINARY HOSPITAL, CHITTAGONG

Abstract

A cross sectional study was conducted from 05.05.13 to 03.07.13 at Kotwali Thana Veterinary Hospital in Chittagong Metropolitan Area to determine the prevalence of coccidiosis-necrotic enteritis complex among commercial broiler birds and to make differential diagnosis between these diseases. In the study area overall 168 postmortem cases of broiler birds were observed of which 76 birds were affected with coccidiosis-necrotic enteritis complex. The disease was diagnosed by clinical history, clinical signs, postmortem and microscopic examination. The prevalence of coccidiosis-necrotic enteritis complex among broiler birds was 45.24%. The prevalence was significantly higher in young (52.73%) than adult birds (31.03%). Statistically significant association (p<0.05) observed between prevalence and different age groups. Prevalence also found higher among birds brought from larger flock size (49.23%) and birds of Hubbard classic strain (52.71%). However no statistically significant association (p>0.05) was observed among flock size and different commercial strain. In conclusion, the present study showed that coccidiosis-necrotic enteritis complex is an important disease of commercial broiler birds in the study area and appropriate strategies have to be designed to reduce the effect of the disease.