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Studies on Eimeria grenieri in the guinea fowl (Numida meleagris)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

P. L. Long
Affiliation:
Houghton Poultry Research Station, Houghton, Huntingdon, Cambs. PE17 2DA
B. J. Millard
Affiliation:
Houghton Poultry Research Station, Houghton, Huntingdon, Cambs. PE17 2DA

Summary

Eimeria grenieri was isolated from intensively reared guinea fowl in Britain. The oocysts had average dimensions of 21·09 × 15·48 μm and a small micropyle. Three generations of schizonts were found in the small intestine. The first mature schizonts were found in the upper intestine 30 h after inoculation. Second-generation schizonts were seen 48–80 h and third-generation schizonts were present 80–96 h after inoculation. These schizonts were found in the middle and lower small intestine. It was confirmed that gametogony of this species occurs only in the caeca. The pre-patent time was 112 h and the reproductive index from a dose of 6 × 102 oocysts was 8 × 104. Doses of between 1 × 104 and 1 × 106 caused severe depression of body weight gain. Immunity to re-infection developed rapidly. Sulphaquinoxaline at a dose of 0·04% in the drinking water given after inoculation was effective in reducing the pathogenic effects of the disease. Robenidine given in the food at a concentration of 16·5 ppm (50% of the recommended concentration for chickens) was effective in preventing disease caused by E. grenieri.

The endogenous life-cycle of E. grenieri was completed in the chorioallantoic membrane of developing chicken embryos.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

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