Periodic release of Eimeria species oocysts from chicken during daytime hours in a tropical environment

Abstract

Every two hours from 6 to 18 hrs, feces were collected from 62 native chickens in Dschang, Western Cameroon. Fecal Eimeria oocyst counts were made using a McMaster cell. Oocysts were most abundant at 16 and 18 hrs when air humidity was high. This particular timing of oocyst release was therefore considered adaptive for survival and transmission of coccidia and ideal for diagnosis.