Re-calculating the cost of coccidiosis in chickens
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Re‑calculating the cost of coccidiosis in chickens Damer P. Blake1* , Jolene Knox1, Ben Dehaeck2, Ben Huntington3, Thilak Rathinam4, Venu Ravipati5, Simeon Ayoade6, Will Gilbert7, Ayotunde O. Adebambo6, Isa Danladi Jatau8, Muthusamy Raman9, Daniel Parker10, Jonathan Rushton7 and Fiona M. Tomley1
Abstract Coccidiosis, caused by Eimeria species parasites, has long been recognised as an economically significant disease of chickens. As the global chicken population continues to grow, and its contribution to food security intensifies, it is increasingly important to assess the impact of diseases that compromise chicken productivity and welfare. In 1999, Williams published one of the most comprehensive estimates for the cost of coccidiosis in chickens, featuring a compartmentalised model for the costs of prophylaxis, treatment and losses, indicating a total cost in excess of £38 million in the United Kingdom (UK) in 1995. In the 25 years since this analysis the global chicken population has doubled and systems of chicken meat and egg production have advanced through improved nutrition, husbandry and selective breeding of chickens, and wider use of anticoccidial vaccines. Using data from industry representatives including veterinarians, farmers, production and health experts, we have updated the Williams model and estimate that coccidiosis in chickens cost the UK £99.2 million in 2016 (range £73.0–£125.5 million). Applying the model to data from Brazil, Egypt, Guatemala, India, New Zealand, Nigeria and the United States resulted in estimates that, when extrapolated by geographical region, indicate a global cost of ~ £10.4 billion at 2016 prices (£7.7–£13.0 billion), equivalent to £0.16/ chicken produced. Understanding the economic costs of livestock diseases can be advantageous, providing baselines to evaluate the impact of different husbandry systems and interventions. The updated cost of coccidiosis in chickens will inform debates on the value of chemoprophylaxis and development of novel anticoccidial vaccines. Keywords: coccidiosis, chickens, Eimeria, cost, economics Introduction Eimeria are protozoan parasites that can cause the enteric disease coccidiosis in all major livestock species. The consequences of infection include malabsorption, enteritis and, in severe cases for some Eimeria species, mortality, compromising economic productivity and animal welfare [1]. Chickens are the most economically important hosts; more than 68 billion were farmed in 2018, representing a third of all meat produced globally in addition to 1.38 trillion eggs for human consumption *Correspondence: [email protected] 1 Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms AL9 7TA, UK Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
[2]. Chicken production is expected to increase further in the next decade [3], highlighting the importance of pathogens that affect poultry to food security and the global agro-economy. Avian coccidiosis has previously
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