Effect of tunable femtosecond laser pulses on the sporulation of Eimeria species oocysts of chickens: An in vitro study

•For the first time, the influence of femtosecond laser pulses on oocyst sporulation rate was investigated.•Unsporulated oocysts were exposed to different wavelengths and exposure times of a pulsed femtosecond laser.•The oocysts' sporulation rate was significantly reduced and their morphology was altered after being exposed to a 360 to 390 nm femtosecond laser.•After 15 min of exposure, irradiation with 370 nm wavelength femtosecond laser light was most effective in reducing oocyst sporulation to 11%.•In contrast, irradiation with infrared 720 nm and 800 nm wavelengths had no significant effect on oocysts sporulation rate.