Project Number: 1245-32000-097-11
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: Mar 01, 2011
End Date: Feb 28, 2014

Objective:
This Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement is to develop new strategies to induce cross protective immunity to avian coccidiosis using multivalent recombinant coccidiosis vaccine and to investigate immune markers associated with protective immunity.

Approach:
ARS identified several potential vaccine antigens of Eimeria that will be used in vaccination trials at ARS. Two recombinant antigens will be mixed in adjuvants which will be provided by the CAVAC and will be used to immunize broiler chickens at ARS. Challenge will be carried out using E. tenella, E. acervulina, and E. Maxima species and clinical parameters (oocysts, body weight, gut lesions) and various host immune responses (antibody response, T-cell proliferation response, cytokines) will be evaluated.