Coccidiosis in turkeys: Evaluation of infection by the examination of turkey broiler litter for oocysts

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Abstract
Three hundred and ninety six samples of litter from turkey broiler houses from four farms were examined over 2–10 weeks from the time day old poults were introduced. Oocyst numbers were low at 2 weeks, reached a peak at 4 weeks and then rapidly declined by 8 weeks in poults treated with sulphaquinoxaline and 3‐nitro‐4‐hydroxyphenylarsonic acid. In monensin‐treated turkeys, oocyst numbers in litter were low at 2 and 4 weeks, reached a peak at 6 weeks and then rapidly declined. Oocyst numbers were significantly lower in samples from monensin‐treated turkeys. There was no difference in the food conversion ratio of birds given the different treatments, but monensin‐treated birds marketed at 11–13 weeks, 15–16 weeks and 21–24 weeks were 3.0%, 4.8% and 3.3% heavier respec‐tively than birds treated with sulphaquinoxaline and 3‐nitro‐4‐hydroxy‐phenylarsonic acid. The value of the examination of litter samples for assessing the activity of anticoccidial drugs is discussed.