Vaccination strategies to control coccidiosis in poultry

Abstract

Coccidiosis is an economically significant enteric disease in poultry caused by parasitic protozoa in the genus Eimeria. Coccidiosis control is achieved with chemical anticoccidial agents, ionophore antibiotics, live vaccines, or a combination. Vaccines are mass applied at the hatchery, through a water spray diluent or a gel delivery system. The purpose of this research was to compare different coccidia vaccines, administration routes, and control combinations for preventing coccidiosis. The first project compared application parameters, the second characterized oocyst cycling, lesion scores, and protection from a pathogenic E. maxima challenge between different vaccines, and the final project was to compare vaccination and bioshuttle programs for the control of E. tenella. Regardless of the vaccine, administration method, or therapeutic combination, with sufficient time for cycling, chickens were protected from challenge in all trials.