Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #113029
Title: AVIAN COCIDIOSIS. A REVIEW OF ACQUIRED INTESTINAL IMMUNITY AND VACCINATION STRATEGIES

Author
item Lillehoj, Hyun
item LILLEHOJ, ERIK - DEXALL BIOMED. LAB

Submitted to: Avian Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/20/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Coccidiosis is a major parasitic disease of poultry which causes >$600 million annual economic loss. Drug resistance of coccidia parasites in the field urges a development of new control strategy against this disease. In this review article, the ARS scientist and her colleague provide an update on the development of vaccines for coccidiosis. The information provided in this review will be useful to poultry scientists and the poultry industry.

Technical Abstract: The gut associated lymphoid tissues contain B and T lymphocytes responsible for acquired immunity to avian coccidiosis. Intestinal B cells begin producing parasite specific antibodies shortly following infection although their role in protecting against coccidiosis is debated. T cell-mediated immunity, predominantly by intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes and lamina propria lymphocytes, confers the main component of protective immunity to Eimeria. Many of these cells display the CD8 and gamma delta T cell receptor surface antigens, phenotypic markers of cytotoxic T cells. While their role in eliminating Eimeria infection remains to be completely elucidated, they have been implicated in parasite transport and their activity is augmented by interferon-gamma and interleukin-2. Because of the importance of cell-mediated immunity, coccidiosis vaccines must be capable of stimulating intestinal T cells. Orally delivered, live parasite evaccines, either unattenuated or attenuated, are powerful stimulators of intestinal cell-mediated immunity but antigenic variability between Eimeria species present in the vaccine and in the field may restrict their commercial application. The newer generations of recombinant DNA and subunit protein vaccines, particularly when used in conjunction with interferon-gamma and interleukin-2, have shown preliminary promise in controlling experimental infections but have yet to be commercially developed. 1