Coccidial Infection in Free-range and Intensively Managed Chickens in Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja-Nigeria, Sub-Saharan Africa

Poultry production has been faced with a number of challenges thereby limiting the expansion and profitability of which parasitic diseases remain the hallmark. Coccidiosis remains one of the commonest parasitic diseases affecting poultry resulting in great economic losses in Nigeria. The prevalence of this disease in chickens within the Federal Capital Territory Abuja is unknown. This study was therefore conducted to determine the prevalence of coccidial infection in free-range local and intensively managed exotic chickens in Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja. Between February and August, 2014, a total of 100 Fresh droppings samples were randomly collected; 50 samples from birds in the free-range system and 50 samples from birds in the intensively managed farms within the Area Council. Simple floatation was used for sample examination for the presence of coccidian oocysts. Data obtained were analysed using the students T-test. Results showed that there is a significant difference in the prevalence of coccidiosis between the two breeds studied. The prevalence rate was higher in the local breeds under the free range system (32%) than the exotic breeds (18%) reared intensively respectively. Since the disease is spread via resistant cysts, appropriate biosecurity measures should therefore be employed to curtail the menace of this disease. The study has implication on poultry production for the fulfillment of sustainable human protein requirement.