CONCURRENT INFECTION OF INTESTINAL COCCIDIOSIS AND ASCARIDIA GALLI IN NATIVE ASEEL CHICKENS (GALLUS DOMESTICUS) FROM VILLUPURAM DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

Disease investigation was made in a native chicken farm with 150 numbers of 12 weeks old Aseel chickens kept in Iruvelpattu village, Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu. Clinical signs like dullness, inappetance, brownish diarrhoea in few birds and mortality of 5 birds within a span of 3 days were reported (3.33%). Necropsy examination of dead birds revealed that emaciated carcass, soiling of vent with reddish droppings, swelling of small intestine with haemorrhages and also duodenum with cylindrical worms. Examination of small intestinal contents and mucosal scrapings confirmed numerous unsporulated oocysts of Eimeria sp. and eggs of Ascaridia galli. The adult roundworms were identified as Ascaridia galli. Examination of droppings from live birds also confirmed of Eimeria (23.33%) and Ascaridia galli eggs (26.66%). Based on the lesions produced in mid-small intestine, oocysts morphometry and sporulation time involved, it was identified as Eimeria necatrix. The present study reports for concurrent parasitic infections of Eimeria necatrix and Ascaridia galli and importance of specific treatment and deworming for endoparasites in native chickens.