Module 7: Coccidiosis

Coccidiosis is of major clinical and economic importance for the global poultry industry. This module provides an overview of host-pathogen interactions, co-infections, epidemiology, diagnosis and coccidiosis control.

Time investment: 3 weeks with an estimated time investment of 12-16 hours per week
Start date: April 17, 2023
Location: Online
Fee: €1275,- (50% discount for ECPVS residents and 10% for participants of previous modules)

Course content

One of the most important intestinal diseases, mostly affecting juvenile poultry, is coccidiosis. This disease is caused by intestinal protozoal parasites of the genus Eimeria. In addition to reduced weight gain and feed efficiency, diarrhoea, and increased mortality, secondary perturbations of the gut microbiota can result in Clostridium perfringens overgrowth causing `necrotic enteritis'. Coccidiosis results in huge economic losses and severe health and welfare problems and increases the environmental impact of broiler farming. In this module an overview will be given on life cycles, taxonomy, pathogenesis, transmission/ epidemiology, secondary/ co-infections, diagnostic aspects (including faecal and post-mortem examinations, molecular detection, etc.) and prophylactic and therapeutic options for control, including the use of antimicrobials, alternative approaches (such as botanicals) and vaccines.

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Schedule

Week 1
Monday April 17th -  9.00 – 11.00 CET 

Powerpoint presentations (live, also recorded)
•    Introduction of the program (10 min) - Velkers
•    Prevalence and (economic) impact of coccidiosis in the world (10 min) - Velkers
•    Eimeria parasite: Taxonomy, life cycle, infectiousness and survival in the environment, biosecurity and transmission between hosts (40 min) - Velkers
•    Break (10 min)
•    Pathogenesis and interactions with other intestinal processes and pathogens (including the microbiome/dysbacteriosis) (45 min) – ter Veen

Monday April 17th  -  11.00 - 12.00 CET – Q & A (Asia, Europe, Africa) - Velkers, ter Veen
Monday April 17th  -  17.00 - 18.00 CET – Q & A (Latin America, USA) - Velkers, ter Veen
Thursday April 20th -  9.00 - 10.00 CET – Q & A (Asia, Europe, Africa) - Velkers, ter Veen
Thursday April 20th - 15.00 - 16.00 CET – Q & A (Latin America, USA) - Velkers, ter Veen

Week 2
Monday April 24th  - 9.00 – 11.00 CET 

Powerpoint presentation (live, also recorded)
•    Diagnostics of Eimeria infections: fecal oocyst counts, post-mortem lesion scoring and molecular techniques (including PCR) (45 min) - ter Veen, Molenaar
•    Break (10 min)
•    Prophylactic and therapeutic anticoccidial treatments: mode of action, resistance development and efficacy (60 min)
o    Antimicrobials – ter Veen
o    Alternatives, including botanicals - Velkers

Monday April 24th -   11.00 - 12.00 CET – Q & A (Asia, Europe, Africa) - Velkers, ter Veen
Monday April 24th -   17.00 - 18.00 CET – Q & A (Latin America, USA) -  Velkers, ter Veen
Thursday April 27th -   9.00 - 10.00 CET – Q & A (Asia, Europe, Africa) - Velkers, ter Veen
Thursday April 27th - 15.00 - 16.00 CET – Q & A (Latin America, USA) - Velkers, ter Veen
 
Week 3
Monday May 1st  - 9.00 – 11.00 CET 

Powerpoint presentation (live, also recorded)
•    Challenges and opportunities for coccidiosis control: Coccidiosis in different (alternative) husbandry systems, sustainability, welfare and legislative aspects (25 min) – Velkers
•    Immunity, including the role of immunosuppression in coccidiosis (30 min) – de Wit 
•    Break (10 min)
•    Vaccination: types of vaccines, experimental and field efficacy (50 min) – ter Veen

Monday May 1st -   11.00 - 12.00 CET – Q & A (Asia, Europe, Africa)– Velkers, de Wit, ter Veen
Monday May 1st  -  17.00 - 18.00 CET - Q & A (Latin America, USA) - Velkers, de Wit,  ter Veen
Thursday May 4th -  9.00 - 12.00 CET - Exam (Asia, Europe, Africa) - Velkers, ter Veen
Thursday May 4th - 15.00 - 18.00 CET - Exam (Latin America, USA) - Velkers, ter Veen

Lecturers

  • Francisca Velkers, DVM, PhD, epidemiologist EBVS European Specialist in Poultry Veterinary Science, Utrecht University
  • Christiaan ter Veen, DVM, MAHM, Royal GD
  • Robert Jan Molenaar, DVM, FRCPath, Royal GD 
  • Prof. Sjaak de Wit, DVM, PhD, EBVS European Specialist in Poultry Veterinary Science, Royal GD

Contact

Inez Eikelboom
Coordinator Continuing Education
ovp.vet@uu.nl
+31 6 34146737