Isolation, Identification and Molecular Characterization of Eimeria spp Infecting Chicken in Khartoum State, Sudan Using ITS1 Gene
Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: Coccidiosis in broiler chickens highly affects the economy for both producers and consumers. The later get a low quality meat due to anaemia induced by the parasite. The disease is characterized by lesions caused by seven host specific members of the family Eimeriidae of the phylum Apicomplexa. Collected positive samples of Eimeria species from broiler chickens were identified by measuring the dimensions of the sporulated oocyst. Seven species of Eimeria were detected using this method. When DNA was extracted and species specific primers were used to amplify ITS1 gene using single specific primer PCR and multiplex PCR, only six species were identified. The accuracy of identification of broiler chicken Eimeria species using PCR is more reliable than the conventional methods like öocyst measurements or histopathology of the affected intestinal regions. This is indicated by the finding that E. brunetti which was identified morphologically by öocyst measurement, could not be identified molecularly. The mitochondrial genome sequences (ITS1) are highly suited for molecular diagnostics of coccidia and may be a potential genetic marker for molecular epidemiology of broiler chicken coccidiosis in the future in Sudan. The aim of this study is to determine and identify the species causing poultry coccidiosis in broiler chicken by traditional methods and molecular characterization using ITS.
Language: English
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W3014292362