Acta Parasitologica Globalis 6 (3): 215-219, 2015 ISSN 2079-2018 © IDOSI Publications, 2015 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.apg.2015.6.3.95306 Corresponding Author: Migbaru Keffale, Haramaya University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Science, P.O. Box, 138, Haramaya, Ethiopia. 215 Prevalence of Poultry Coccidiosis in Large and Small Scale Poultry Farms in and Around Dire Dawa, Ethiopia Migbaru Keffale and Abdi Jibril Mume Haramaya University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Science, P.O. Box, 138, Haramaya, Ethiopia Abstract: A cross sectional study was conducted in Dire Dawa area, from October 2013 to May 2014 to estimate the prevalence of coccidiosis in chickens and to identify the possible risk factors of the disease during the study.Oocysts in each faecal sample of chicken was detected by flotation technique using saturated Sodium Chloride solution. In this study out of 384 chickens 164 (42.7%) were found to be positive for Eimeriaspecies. The prevalence of poultry coccidiosis was significantly higher in young (50.8%) than adult (34.9%) (P<0.05). The infection rate was also higher in exotic breeds (47.7%) than local breeds (38.2%) and in intensive management system (48.7%) than traditional management system (38.9%) but there was no statistically significant variation (P>0.05).The probability of chickens being positive was high (p<0.05) in apparently sick birds, 85%, 80% and 93.3% out of the total birds showing depression, diarrhea and weak body condition respectively. In conclusion the study indicates that coccidiosis is still the most important parasitic disease of poultry especially on the intensive management system in and around Dire Dawa. Therefore, further research for best control and prevention strategies like good sanitation and proper management of chickens should be designed and implemented. Key words: Coccidiosis Oocysts Dire Dawa Chickens Prevalence Ethiopia INTRODUCTION important part of the national economy in general and the The world poultry population has been estimated to many rural households keep poultry in their farmyard. be about 16.2 billion, with 71.6 % in developing countries, Village poultry production plays an important role in producing 67, 718,544 metric tons of chicken meat and improving the nutritional status, incomes, food security 57,861,747 metric tons of hen eggs annually [1]. In Africa, and livelihood of many small farmers and landless village poultry contributes over 70% of poultry products communities owing to its low cost of production [5]. and 20% of animal protein intake. In East Africa over 80% Several factors have been suggested for low production. of human population live in rural areas and over 75% of The system is characterized by low input and low output, these households keep indigenous chickens and Ethiopia with minimal management interventions, feed is not exception to this situation [2]. supplementation, housing and disease control. This kind Ethiopia has large population of chicken, estimated to of production by itself is a limiting factor to sound be 42 million with native chicken of none descriptive economic and sustainable production. The low input breeds representing 96.6%, hybrid chicken 0.55% and might beas a result of the high risk due to high mortalities exotic breeds of chickens mainly kept in urban andperi- experienced in village poultry. Thus, the potential of the urban areas 2.85% [3]. From the total population of free-range chicken production has not been exploited in chicken in Ethiopia, 99 % are raised under the traditional the country [6]. back yard system of management, while 1 % is under Poultry production in Ethiopia has been hindered by intensive management system [4]. different prevalent disease among which important ones In the country village poultry plays a dominant role are Newcastle disease, coccidiosis, salmonellosis and in total poultry production. The sector represents an chronic respiratory disease [7]. Coccidiosis in chickens is rural economy in particular. In developing countries,