Keywords

nutrition, Eimeria, coccidiosis, broiler

Abstract

Coccidiosis is the most common parasitic disease caused by Eimeria spp., leading to over $14 billion economic loss worldwide annually. The most prevalent Eimeria spp. in poultry include E. tenella, E. maxima, E. acervulina, E. brunetti, E. necatrix, E. praecox, and E. mitis and have different level of pathogenicity and specific infection sites in the intestine. Eimeria spp. invade intestinal epithelial tissues and induce intestinal damage, causing inflammation, oxidative stress, hemorrhage, and diarrhea. Furthermore, coccidiosis causes reduction of growth performance, intestinal integrity, nutrient digestibility, and increase of mortality and mobility in poultry. Nutrition strategies have been evaluated to mitigate detrimental impact of coccidiosis in poultry. Prebiotics, probiotics, enzymes, antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins and minerals have shown to reduce severity of intestinal damage and stimulate nutrient digestion and fast recovery of the intestinal damage and growth performance. In order to develop efficient nutrition strategies, understanding of Eimeria infection on gut health and nutrient digestibility is critical. Thus, this paper will discuss about 1) Eimeria infection on gut health; 2) Eimeria infection on nutrient digestibility; and 3) Roles of key amino acids in Eimeria challenged broilers.

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