Revisiting the Economic Impacts of Eimeria and Its Control in European Intensive Broiler Systems With a Recursive Modeling Approach

Abstract

Ionophore compounds active against Eimeria species are widely used in intensive broiler systems and have formed the backbone of coccidiosis control for almost 50 years. Producers, however, are under pressure to reduce ionophore use due to consumer concerns over antimicrobial usage in food animals, and antimicrobial resistance. Moreover, current vaccines against Eimeria are commonly considered to be less cost-effective in intensive broiler systems, especially in Europe where attenuated live vaccines are used. An economic assessment of the impact of Eimeria and the disease coccidiosis, including the cost implications of different efficacies of control, is therefore timely to provide evidence for industry and policy development. A mechanistic model of broiler production under varying infection and control states was used to construct a dataset from which system productivity can be measured. Coccidiosis impact increased rapidly as control efficacy decreased. In the total absence of control, median impact was found to maximize at between e2.55 and e2.97 in lost production per meter squared of broiler house over a 33 day growing period. Coccidiosis remains a major risk to intensive broiler systems and the model developed allows investigation of issues related to coccidiosis control, antimicrobial use and the development of antimicrobial resistance.

Impact of Eimeria tenella Oocyst Dose on Parasite Replication, Lesion Score and Cytokine Transcription in the Caeca in Three Breeds of Commercial Layer Chickens

“…Coccidiosis, caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Eimeria , is a gastrointestinal disease commonly associated with chickens that has implications for chicken welfare and economic consequences for producers ( 1 , 2 ). Seven Eimeria species are known to cause disease in chickens; each species infects a specific region of the gastrointestinal tract with variations in fecundity and pathogenicity noted between them ( 3 ).…”

A Novel Whole Yeast-Based Subunit Oral Vaccine Against Eimeria tenella in Chickens

“…Species such as E. brunetti and E. necatrix are usually only required in vaccines for longer lived layer or breeder chickens ( 45 ). Future studies should focus on the addition of antigens from Eimeria acervulina and E. maxima , especially important in North America ( 46 ), which in combination with E. tenella would represent the three species most costly to global chicken production.…”

A novel whole yeast-based subunit oral vaccine against Eimeria tenella in chickens

“…Species such as E. brunetti and E. necatrix are usually only required in vaccines for longer lived layer or breeder chickens (44). Future studies should focus on the addition of antigens from Eimeria acervulina and E. maxima, especially important in North America (45), which in combination with E. tenella would represent the three species most costly to global chicken production.…”