Effects of severity and duration of infections on oocyst size of Eimeria necatrix, a coccidium of chicken

Abstract

The oocyst size of Eimeria necatrix is dependent on severity and duration of infection. The higher the severity of infection the smaller the oocyst size. The size of the oocysts recovered early in the patent period was significantly smaller (P < 0.001) than those recovered late m the course of infection. Experimental results suggested that size of oocysts as a major tool of coccidia identification is not reliable.