Coccidiosis Control Through Phytochemical Modulation of Immunity

Avian coccidiosis is a major enteric parasitic disease of poultry caused by protozoa of the genus Eimeria, belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa and the family Eimeriidae. Multiple Eimeria species infect different regions of the intestinal tract, resulting in severe disease manifestations (Gerhold, 2023). The predominant species reported in South India include E. tenella, E. necatrix, E. acervulina, E. maxima, E. mitis, E. brunetti, and E. praecox, with E. tenella and E. necatrix being the most pathogenic. The life cycle of Eimeria is complex, encompassing both intracellular and extracellular developmental stages that elicit strong inflammatory responses in the host. These responses cause extensive intestinal tissue damage, which is often accompanied by oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, enteric haemorrhages, reduced growth performance (ill thrift), and heightened vulnerability to secondary infections, particularly those caused by Clostridium spp. In severe infections, high flock-level mortality can occur, resulting in substantial economic losses to the poultry industry (El-Shall et al., 2022).