Effect of ammonia gas on poultry litter contaminated with Eimeria spp.

Résumé

Avian coccidiosis is a common disease that affects poultry worldwide. The practices used to control this pathology in poultry are based mainly on the use of antimicrobials, which have generated increased resistance of Eimeria and other microorganisms. Research is therefore needed to devise new control models and strategies. The objective of our research was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of ammonia gas on poultry litter artificially contaminated with unsporulated Eimeria spp. oocysts. Samples of sterilized poultry litter were placed in containers artificially contaminated with unsporulated Eimeria spp. oocysts. Samples were placed in plastic bags and ammonia gas was injected in concentrations of 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.8%, 1% and 1.2%. The tested dosages of ammonia gas inhibited the sporulation of oocysts in poultry litter by 100%. Our study indicates that ammonia gas is efficient in eliminating Eimeria spp. in poultry litter at concentrations equal to or higher than 0.2% after one hour of exposure. These results are promising because, through the use of the bedding disinfection method (shallow fermentation with ammonia injection) it will be possible to eliminate field oocysts, improving the result of coccidiosis vaccines.