What causes a coccidiosis outbreak if it’s not resistance?
In this video Thomas K. Jeffers will discuss what causes a coccidiosis outbreak if it’s not resistance, what would resistance look like?
Very few poultry veterinarians and diagnosticians today have actually seen a real coccidiosis outbreak, unless they were in practice prior to the 1970s when the ionophores transformed coccidiosis control without resistance problems.
Resistance in a population
Prior to that time, coccidiosis outbreaks in broilers medicated with chemical anticoccidials would be characterised by as much as 10 to 15% flock mortality on a daily basis, solely due to coccidiosis. Today, an increase in lesions and reduced FCR may occur due to factors on the farm that are not attributed to broad resistance. Proper ventilation and management of litter conditions to avoid oocyst build-up and sporulation is essential to control coccidiosis.
Also, one most bear in mind that ionophores work in concert with the immune system of the bird. So, any compromise to the immune system, such as infectious bursal disease, will compromise the effect of ionophores based on their anticoccidial performance.
An effective anticoccidial programme is dependent on management at the farm level. No anticoccidial programme can overcome poor farm management.
Videos 13 – 10 from the series can be viewed here:
Video 13: Why do people believe rotation is necessary?
Video 12: Why we don’t recommend ASTs
Video 11: How do we explain ionophore longevity?
Video 10: Is resistance an issue for anticoccidials?
Check it out…
Visit the Intestinal Integrity Corner page to view more videos from the series
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