Coccidiosis - Turkey
Introduction
Coccidiosis in turkeys is common, but often goes undiagnosed as the lesions and clinical signs are often less obvious than in chickens. Lesions also are quick to resolve and so upon necropsy they are undetectable.
Disease is mostly apparent in young poults, with turkeys older than 6- 8 weeks seemingly very resistant. All coccidia species are thought to be common and exposure is thought to occur at an early age and resistance develops.
There are seven Eimeria species currently known to have been found in turkeys. Isospora and Cryptosporidium species are also found in the turkey.
Each specie has predilection sites and variable pathogenicity., however only two are important pathogenically.
Eimeria in the caecum cause petechial haemorrhages and caseous caecal cores as well as mucous secretion.
Eimeria in the anterior and mid-intestine cause necrotic enteritis and petechial haemorrhages