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Title: HOST IMMUNITY AND VACCINE DEVELOPMENT TO COCCIDIA AND SALMONELLA INFECTIONS IN CHICKENS

Author
item Lillehoj, Hyun
item OKAMURA, MASASHI - OBIHIRO UNIV

Submitted to: Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/30/2003
Publication Date: 6/14/2003
Citation: Lillehoj, H.S., Okamura, M. 2003. Host immunity and vaccine development to coccidia and salmonella infections in chickens. Poultry Science. 40:151-193.

Interpretive Summary: Intestinal parasitism is a major stress factor that can lead to malnutrition and lowered performance and production efficiency of livestock and poultry. Coccidiosis and salmonellosis are intestinal infections caused by intracellular pathogens and cost the poultry industry significant economic losses. Infection with coccidia and Salmonella seriously impairs the growth and feed utilization of poultry. Current control method using drugs will need to be replaced by non-drug-dependent method due to an increasing drug resistance of pathogens and increasing consumer's concern on the presence of drug residues in food supply. Therefore, alternative control strategies against these enteric pathogens are needed. In this paper, ARS scientists review current literature to provide new information on the current scientific knowledge in this field. This paper will help poultry scientists and poultry industry to devise better control strategies against these pathogens.

Technical Abstract: Within the past few decades, intensive rearing practices have been developed to keep pace with the increasing demand for the high quality, low cost protein source that poultry provides. For example, chickens are housed routinely in crowded environments under adverse conditions and chicken strains with rapid growth, high protein-to-fat content and superior egg laying characteristics have been genetically selected. A major negative consequence of these practices has been an increase in the incidence of diseases. Enteric diseases in particular have emerged as a major problem threatening the future viability of the poultry industry. A variety of methods have been used to combat avian diseases in the commercial setting including improved farm management practices, use of antibiotic drugs, selection of disease resistant chicken strains and manipulation of the chicken immune system. In the latter category, development of vaccines against the major avian diseases has become a priority in the poultry industry. For the development of practical vaccines and new control strategies against enteric pathogens, comprehensive understanding of host intestinal immune system and basic immunobiology of host-microbes interactions leading to the protection is necessary. Recent progress in poultry genetics and functional genomics technology would facilitate the development of logical control strategies against enteric diseases of poultry in the coming decade. This paper will highlight recent progress in host immunobiology and vaccine strategies to Eimeria and Salmonella infections.