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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #32242
Title: CHARACTERIZATION OF CELL MEDIATED RESPONSES TO EIMERIA ACERVULINA ANTIGENS

Author
item MARTIN ALISON G - 1265-40-00
item AWADALLA SALWA - 1265-40-00
item LILLEHOJ HYUN S - 1265-40-00

Submitted to: Avian Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/31/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Avian coccidiosis is a parasitic disease of considerable economic importance both in terms of morbidity and costs of prophylactic control measures. Despite great interest in the development of a vaccine for coccidiosis, traditional approaches have resulted in little progress. In this paper, several parasite fractions are described which evoke varying immune responses. Different fractions stimulated different parts of the immune system. Thus when used in conjunction in a vaccine, such ractions might offer protection against coccidiosis.

Technical Abstract: Identification and characterization of immunogenic coccidial antigens eliciting cell mediated as well as humoral immune responses are vital to effective vaccine development. In order to identify such antigens from Eimeria acervulina, merozoite and sporozoite fractions were separated by electrophoresis and injected into chickens. Coccidia-specific antibody titers, lymphocyte proliferation and interferon production were measured to determine whether the inoculations sensitized the chickens to merozoites and sporozoites. Several fractions from merozoites and sporozoites induced humoral or cell mediated responses. Those which were most promising elicited moderate to high responses to more than one measure. Merozoite fractions 2, 3, 4 and 5 (MW 6,000-43,000) had consistently high cell mediated and/or antibody responses. Sporozoite fractions, however, showed little agreement among measures of immunogenicity. Sporozoite Fractions 5 and 6 (MW 12,700-29,000) had good ELISA titers after challenge. Sporozoite Fractions 1 and 2 (MW >200,000-69,000) elicited good cell mediated responses. These findings support the hypothesis that different antigens preferentially elicit different T cell responses, thus several epitopes would be needed to develop an effective vaccine.