Table 1.

Main characteristics of Eimeria species.

Species	Site of development	Pathogenicity	Gross lesions	Reference
E. praecox	Duodenum, jejunum	Least pathogenic	Watery intestinal contents Mucus and mucoid casts	[8]
E. hagani	Duodenum, jejunum and ileum	Least pathogenic	Petechiae and white opacities in the upper small intestine Intestinal content may be creamy or watery	[19]
E. acervulina	Duodenum, ileum	Less pathogenic	Limited enteritis causing fluid loss. Malabsorption of nutrients.	[50]
E. mitis	Ileum	Less pathogenic	Limited enteritis causing fluid loss. Malabsorption of nutrients	[50]
E. mivati	Duodenum, rectum	Less pathogenic	Red petechiae and round white spots Severe denuding of the mucosa	[50]
E. maxima	Jejunum, ileum	Moderately-Highly pathogenic	Inflammation of the intestinal wall with pinpointed hemorrhages Sloughing of epithelia	[50]
E. brunetti	Caeca and rectum	Highly pathogenic	Inflammation of the intestinal wall with pinpointed hemorrhages Sloughing of epithelia	[50]
E. tenella	Caeca	Highly pathogenic	Thickened cecal wall and bloody contents at the proximal end Distension of caecum Villi destruction causing extensive hemorrhage and death	[50, 85]
E. necatrix	Jejunum, ileum, caeca	Highly pathogenic	Intestine may be ballooned Mucosa thickened and the lumen filled with fluid, blood and tissue debris Lesions in dead birds are observable as black and white plaques (salt and pepper appearance)	[50]