背景:球虫病是鸡中最常见的疾病之一,对家禽业造成重大的经济影响。然而,以前没有研究评估广东省肉鸡养殖场该病的患病率。因此,本研究旨在对广东省四个地区集约化管理条件下艾美球虫的发生及其相关危险因素进行流行病学调查。中国。从广东省89个肉鸡养殖场共采集粪便样本394份。使用PCR确定艾美球虫物种感染的患病率,使用定量实时PCR评估A型产气荚膜梭菌的发生。
结果:结果显示,在农场水平上的总体患病率为98.88%(88/89),在羊群水平上为87.06%(343/394)。所有七个艾美球虫物种都被鉴定出来了,与E.acervulina(72.53%;64/89),E.tenella(68.54%;61/89),和E.mitis(66.29%;59/89)在农场一级,和E.acervulina(36.55%;144/394),E.米蒂斯(35.28%;139/394),和E.tenella(34.01%;134/394)在羊群水平。观察到的主要物种组合是所有七个艾美球虫物种的共同感染(6.74%;6/89),接着是E.acervulina的组合,E.tenella,E.米蒂斯,E.坏死因子,E.Brunetti,和E.最大值(5.62%,5/89)。一种E.acervulina的组合,E.tenella,E.米蒂斯,E.坏死因子,E.Brunetti,在农场一级也观察到了E.praecox(4.49%;4/89)。此外,该研究确定了与艾美球虫物种流行相关的几个潜在风险因素,包括农场的位置,鸡的年龄,饮用水源,控制策略,和产气荚膜梭菌A型的存在被确定为与艾美球虫流行相关的潜在危险因素。单变量和多变量分析显示,与农场水平的起始鸡相比,母鸡感染与成年鸡(OR=10.86;95%CI:1.92-61.36;p<0.05)和成年鸡(OR=24.97;95%CI:4.29-145.15;p<0.001)之间存在显着关联。此外,与使用自来水的农场相比,使用地下水的农场(OR=0.27;95%CI:0.08-0.94;p<0.05)不太可能出现E.maxima.在羊群层,与广东东部相比,珠江三角洲的E.tenella的患病率明显更高(OR=2.48;95%CI:1.0-6.15;p=0.05)。有趣的是,与具有本地杂交鸟类的羊群相比,具有本地鸟类的羊群不太可能具有E.brunetti(OR=0.48;95%CI:0.26-0.89;p<0.05)。此外,与仅使用疫苗的鸡群相比,使用抗球虫药物(OR=0.09;95%CI:0.03-0.31;p<0.001)或疫苗和抗球虫药物组合(OR=0.06;95%CI:0.01-0.25;p<0.001)的鸡群对E.tenella阳性的可能性较小。最后,A型产气荚膜梭菌感染的鸡群明显更容易出现E.necatrix(OR=3.26;95%CI:1.96-5.43;p<0.001),E.tenella(OR=2.14;95%CI:1.36-3.36;p<0.001),E.brunetti(OR=2.48;95%CI:1.45-4.23;p<0.001),和E.acervulina(OR=2.62;95%CI:1.69-4.06;p<0.001)与没有产气荚膜梭菌A型的羊群比较
结论:这项研究对患病率进行了调查,分布,广东肉鸡艾美球虫感染的危险因素。艾美球虫物种的农场一级流行率高于其他地区和国家以前的流行率数字。在广东,布鲁内蒂大肠杆菌的患病率高于以前在中国不同地区的患病率。农场位置,鸡的年龄,饮用水源,控制策略,A型产气荚膜梭菌的存在被认为是与艾美球虫流行相关的潜在危险因素。必须强调进一步调查的必要性,以更深入地研究在不同羊群目的的集约化管理条件下艾美球虫物种的发生。
BACKGROUND: Coccidiosis is one of the most frequently reported diseases in chickens, causing a significant economic impact on the poultry industry. However, there have been no previous studies evaluating the prevalence of this disease in broiler farms in Guangdong province. Therefore, this study aims to conduct an epidemiological investigation into the occurrence of
Eimeria species and associated risk factors in intensive management conditions across four regions in Guangdong province,
China. A total of 394 fecal samples were collected from 89 broiler farms in Guangdong province. The prevalence of
Eimeria species infection was determined using PCR, and the occurrence of Clostridium perfringens type A was assessed using quantitative real-time PCR.
RESULTS: The results showed an overall prevalence of 98.88% (88/89) at the farm level and 87.06% (343/394) at the flock level. All seven
Eimeria species were identified, with E. acervulina (72.53%; 64/89), E. tenella (68.54%; 61/89), and E. mitis (66.29%; 59/89) at the farm level, and E. acervulina (36.55%; 144/394), E. mitis (35.28%; 139/394), and E. tenella (34.01%; 134/394) at the flock level. The predominant species combination observed was a co-infection of all seven Eimeria species (6.74%; 6/89), followed by a combination of E. acervulina, E. tenella, E. mitis, E. necatrix, E. brunetti, and E. maxima (5.62%, 5/89). A combination of E. acervulina, E. tenella, E. mitis, E. necatrix, E. brunetti, and E. praecox (4.49%; 4/89) was also observed at the farm level. Furthermore, the study identified several potential risk factors associated with the prevalence of Eimeria species, including farm location, chicken age, drinking water source, control strategy, and the presence of C. perfringens type A were identified as potential risk factors associated with prevalence of Eimeria species. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed a significant association between E. necatrix infection and both grower chickens (OR = 10.86; 95% CI: 1.92-61.36; p < 0.05) and adult chickens (OR = 24.97; 95% CI: 4.29-145.15; p < 0.001) compared to starter chickens at the farm level. Additionally, farms that used groundwater (OR = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.08-0.94; p < 0.05) were less likely to have E. maxima compared to those that used running water. At the flock level, the prevalence of E. tenella was significantly higher in the Pearl River Delta (OR = 2.48; 95% CI: 1.0-6.15; p = 0.05) compared to eastern Guangdong. Interestingly, flocks with indigenous birds were less likely to have E. brunetti (OR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.26-0.89; p < 0.05) compared to flocks with indigenous crossbred birds. Furthermore, flocks that used anticoccidial drugs (OR = 0.09; 95% CI: 0.03-0.31; p < 0.001) or a combination of vaccines and anticoccidial drugs (OR = 0.06; 95% CI: 0.01-0.25; p < 0.001) were less likely to be positive for E. tenella compared to flocks that only used vaccines. Finally, flocks with C. perfringens type A infection were significantly more likely to have E. necatrix (OR = 3.26; 95% CI: 1.96-5.43; p < 0.001), E. tenella (OR = 2.14; 95% CI: 1.36-3.36; p < 0.001), E. brunetti (OR = 2.48; 95% CI: 1.45-4.23; p < 0.001), and E. acervulina (OR = 2.62; 95% CI: 1.69-4.06; p < 0.001) compared to flocks without C. perfringens type A.
CONCLUSIONS: This study conducted an investigation on the prevalence, distribution, and risk factors associated with Eimeria species infection in broiler chickens in Guangdong. The farm-level prevalence of Eimeria species was higher than the previous prevalence figures for other areas and countries. E. brunetti was identified at higher prevalence in Guangdong than previously survived prevalence in different regions in
China. Farm location, chicken age, drinking water source, control strategy, and the presence of C. perfringens type A were considered as potential risk factors associated with prevalence of Eimeria species. It is imperative to underscore the necessity for further surveys to delve deeper into the occurrence of Eimeria species under intensive management conditions for different flock purposes.