Coccidiosis causes considerable economic loss to the poultry industry.
Chickens are susceptible to at least 11 species of coccidia. The most common species are Eimeria tenella , which causes the cecal or bloody type of coccidiosis, E. necatrix which causes intestinal coccidiosis, and E. acervulina and E. maxima , which cause chronic intestinal coccidiosis. General life cycle of coccidia Stages of coccidia in chickens appear both within the host as well as outside. Under proper conditions of temperature and moisture the oocyst develops within one to two days to form a sporulated oocyst which is capable of infecting other chickens. The numbers produced depend on the species of coccidia involved.