Coccidiosis affects most species of poultry, waterfowl, gamebirds, and pigeons.
The information presented here will focus on the small chicken flock but the principles discussed are generally applicable to other species. Affected birds will be depressed, have ruffled feathers, be reluctant to move, and often the feathers around the vent will be soiled with fecal material due to diarrhea. In severe cases bloody droppings may be observed. Lesions A postmortem examination of a bird that has succumbed to coccidiosis will reveal distinct pathology in one or more regions of the intestines. Coccidial species are both highly host specific and infect a specific region of the intestines.