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Abstract Chicken coccidiosis is an intestinal infestation caused by the intracellular protozoan parasite of the genus Eimeria. Seven species have been recognized to infect chickens: Eimeria tenella, Eimeria necatrix, Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria maxima, Eimeria brunetti, Eimeria mitis, and Eimeria praecox. Each species has its own characteristics with respect to preferred site of infestation, pathogenicity and irnrnunogenicity. For many years, prophylactic use of anticoccidial drugs has been the primary means of controlling chicken coccidiosis in broiler industry and has played a major role in the growth of this industry, Diclazuril, Toltrezuril and Nicorbazin, were first introduced, then followed by ionophores. Nowadays, new treatments of coccidiosis were established such as vaccination and the use of probiotics. Many kinds of vaccines were introduced to the market to control coccidiosis such as those vaccines based on live virulent strains, vaccines based on live attenuated strains, vaccines based on live strains that are relatively tolerant to the ionophores, and non- live subunit vaccines. On the other hand, bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus played a great role as food additives (probiotics) to control the disease. The use of probiotics has the advantage of preventing the intestinal colonization of entero-pathogenic microorganisms in birds by several mechanisms. |