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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #91488

Title: USE OF LIVE OOCYST BASED VACCINES IN AVIAN COCCIDIAL CONTROL

Author
item Danforth, Harry

Submitted to: Chinese Journal of Parasitology
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/10/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The U.S. poultry industry experiences annual losses of over $350 million due to coccidiosis, an intestinal disease caused by intracellular parasites of the genus Eimeria. This disease has been controlled for the last 50 years by use of anticoccidial compounds mixed in the feed. However, over the last decade, drug resistance by these parasites has increased, which has resulted in renewed interest by the poultry industry for other avenues of control. In a series of experiments done at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in collaboration with vaccine and pharmaceutical companies, it was found that different strains of meat type broiler and roaster chickens would effectively produce a protective immune response to vaccination with live parasite vaccines resulting in improved bird weights and feed efficiency. These studies showed that: a gel-delivery system would give better bird immunization and protection than other types of delivery systems; incorporation of parasite strains from a specific geographical areas was necessary in some cases to insure significant cross-protection to challenge infection; and, combined use of vaccination with drug resistant parasites and anticoccidial medication would improve bird performance. The results reviewed in this paper have resulted in an increased use of viable oocyst vaccines by the poultry industry.

Technical Abstract: The major component in the control of coccidiosis in the poultry industry since the 1950's has been the use of anticoccidial compounds, however, increased drug resistance by these parasites to these coumpounds has resulted in a renewed interest of the use of live oocyst-based vaccines for coccidial control. A series of experiments performed at the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that; new high production strains of broiler birds now used by the poultry industry would produce significant protection against challenge coccidial infection after immunization with viable oocyst of coccidia; use of a gel-delivery system developed in collaboration with a vaccine company and the U.S.D.A. gave improved viable oocyst vaccination in broiler and roaster birds in field trial studies; immunovarient strains of coccidia must be included in viable oocyst vaccine formulations to elicit strain cross-protection of coccidia from different geographical areas; and combined use of vaccination with drug resistant strains of coccidia with anticoccidial medication gave improved performance in broiler birds. These results add to the knowledge of viable oocyst vaccination and could result in enhanced bird flock performance for the poultry industry.