author(s)
A Kalita, PC Sarmah and P Kakati

abstract
The present communication reports the results of comparative evaluation of three methods viz. Conventional, COCCIMORPH tool and PCR analysis in identification of Eimeria species circulating in the broiler chicken flocks of Assam. A total of 109 carcasses of dead broilers obtained from 45 small scale farms were examined at post-mortem for recovery of oocysts and lesion study in different portions of intestines affected with Eimeria infection. Micrometry of sporulated oocysts and the intestinal lesions were considered for identification of Eimeria species by the conventional method. Photomicrographs of sporulated oocyst types identified by the conventional method were analysed by digital COCCIMORPH tool for further interpretation on Eimeria species. PCR analysis was done in infected gut tissues of birds for amplification of DNA using species specific primers and confirmation of Eimeria species. The study confirmed identification of four species of Eimeria - E. tenella, E. acervulina, E. mitis and E. maxima infecting broiler chickens of the study area. Identification of former three species was found to be uniform in all the tests. Considering the PCR result as 100% accurate, species identification by the conventional method in the present study was found 60% and 80% in agreement with those of COCCIMORPH and PCR respectively while identification by COCCIMORPH was 75% accurate with the PCR result. The two tests, although showed to be less efficient than the PCR method, may prove valuable when used together in the identification process in absence of a well equipped PCR laboratory.