AUTHOR=Mesa-Pineda Carolina , Navarro-Ruíz Jeffer L. , López-Osorio Sara , Chaparro-Gutiérrez Jenny J. , Gómez-Osorio Luis M. 

TITLE=Chicken Coccidiosis: From the Parasite Lifecycle to Control of the Disease

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.787653

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2021.787653

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>The poultry industry is one of the main providers of protein for the world's population, but it faces great challenges including coccidiosis, one of the diseases with the most impact on productive performance. Coccidiosis is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus <italic>Eimeria</italic>, which are a group of monoxenous obligate intracellular parasites. Seven species of this genus can affect chickens (<italic>Gallus gallus)</italic>, each with different pathogenic characteristics and targeting a specific intestinal location. <italic>Eimeria</italic> alters the function of the intestinal tract, generating deficiencies in the absorption of nutrients and lowering productive performance, leading to economic losses. The objective of this manuscript is to review basic concepts of coccidiosis, the different <italic>Eimeria</italic> species that infect chickens, their life cycle, and the most sustainable and holistic methods available to control the disease.</p>