• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.147-154
• /
• 2013

To control coccidiosis without using prophylactic medications, a DNA vaccine targeting the gametophyte antigen Gam56 from Eimeria maxima in chickens was constructed, and the immunogenicity and protective effects were evaluated. The ORF of Gam56 gene was cloned into an eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1(zeo)+. Expression of Gam56 protein in COS-7 cells transfected with recombinant plasmid pcDNA-Gam56 was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence assay. The DNA vaccine was injected intramuscularly to yellow feathered broilers of 1-week old at 3 dosages (25, 50, and $100{\mu}g/chick$). Injection was repeated once 1 week later. One week after the second injection, birds were challenged orally with $5{\times}10^4$ sporulated oocysts of E. maxima, then weighed and killed at day 8 post challenge. Blood samples were collected and examined for specific peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation activity and serum antibody levels. Compared with control groups, the administration of pcDNA-Gam56 vaccine markedly increased the lymphocyte proliferation activity (P<0.05) at day 7 and 14 after the first immunization. The level of lymphocyte proliferation started to decrease on day 21 after the first immunization. A similar trend was seen in specific antibody levels. Among the 3 pcDNA-Gam56 immunized groups, the median dosage group displayed the highest lymphocyte proliferation and antibody levels (P<0.05). The median dosage group had the greatest relative body weight gain (89.7%), and the greatest oocyst shedding reduction (53.7%). These results indicate that median dosage of DNA vaccine had good immunogenicity and immune protection effects, and may be used in field applications for coccidiosis control.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.181-188
• /
• 1997

In order to clarify the effect of cryptosporidiosis on immune response, histopathological changes associated with experimentally occurring bursal cryptosporidiosis in chickens were chronologically observed as the first step. A total of 150 2-day-old chickens was each inoculated orally with a single dose of 5 × 105 Cryptospori,mum bailevi oocysts. The chickens showed a normal profile of oocyst shedding in droppings. The bursa indices throughout the experimental period indicated negligible reactions. Numerous cryptosporidia occurred in the microvillous border of bursal epithelium between days 4 and 16 postinoculation (PI). Appearance of the most mast cells was followed by a dramatic loss of the protozoa in the bursa of Fabricius (BF). The distribution of the coccidium coincided with heterophil infiltration in the epithelium and adjacent lamina propria. The histopathological lesion was marked diffuse chronic superficial purulent bursitis with heterophil infiltration in the epithelium and adjacent lamina proprla and mucosal epithelial hyperplasia. These results suggest that the bursitis may induce immunosuppressive effect.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.33-36
• /
• 1998

Hemagglutinin (HA) titers to SRBC were chronologically observed in chickens orally inoculated at 2 days of age with 5 × 105 oocysts of Cwptosporidium bniLeWi. All the infected chickens exhibited negligible HA titers by 44 days postinoculation (Pl) . The titers were elevated as time progressed. and peaked on day 52 Pl, declined gradually thereafter, and eventually reached to normal titers on day 92 Pl. On the contrary, the titers in uninfected chickens were higher in comparison with infected chickens during the experiment. Chickens infected with the protozoa showed normal oocyst shedding profiles during this period. These data suggest that C. bnilewi infection suppress development of humoral immunity to SRBC in chickens. It is possible that impairment of the bursa of Fabricius by cryptosporidiosis rendered chickens vulnerable to other pathogens.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.45-54
• /
• 1995

Two-day-old chickens{\;}and{\;}mallards were orally inoculated with one of % doses varying from $2{\;}{\times}{\;}10^2{\;}to{\;}2{\;}{\times}{\;}10^6$ of C. bailevi oocysts per individual. Generally, the more oocysts Inoculated were, the longer the patent periods were, and the more oocysts shedding were. Meanwhile increasing the inoculative dose, the prepatent periods were shortened except that mallards inoculated with $2{\;}{\times}{\;}10^2and{\;}2{\;}{\times}{\;}10^3$ oocysts foiled to produce the oocysts. The more parasites involving oocysts appeared from the chicken in comparison to the mallard. In the chickens challenged with a single dose of $2{\;}{\times}{\;}10^6$ oocysts, a small number of oocysts were detected from feces on days 4-14 after challenge infection (ACI) in all of carrageenan administered groups and in the control groups inoculated with $2{\;}{\times}{\;}10^2{\;}and{\;}2{\;}{\times}{\;}10^3$ oocysts. In the mallards, a few oocysts were also recognized on days 5-15 ACI in all of carrageenan treated groups and in the control groups inoculated with $2{\;}{\times}{\;}10^2,{\;}2{\;}{\times}{\;}10^3{\;}and{\;}2{\;}{\times}{\;}10^4$ oocysts. Just prior to challenge infection, phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages (Me) and the number of peripheral Mc in both birds were significantly decreased in the carrageenan treated groups as compared to the control groups. Mild challenge inection in both birds denoted that the immunogenicity of C. bailelli to the birds was very strong, despite MB blocker carrageenan administration.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.63 no.6
• /
• pp.1362-1375
• /
• 2021

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a combination 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid (THB) and oregano extracts (i.e., Carvacrol and Thymol) at intake/dietary different levels on growth performance, intestinal health indicators, immune responses and fecal oocyst shedding in broiler chickens under Eimeria challenged condition. A total of 336 one-day-old broilers were randomly assigned to one of six dietary treatments with seven replications per treatment. Dietary treatments were: i) Non-challenged bird without any dietary treatment (NCNT), ii) Challenged bird without any dietary treatment (CNT), iii) Challenged birds fed a THB diet (0.1 g/kg, THB), iv) Challenged birds fed a combination of THB and oregano extracts diet (0.1 g/kg, COM 100), and a gradual increase of combination of THB and oregano extracts likely v) 0.15 g/kg (COM 150), and 0.2 g/kg (COM 200). On day 14, all groups except for NCNT have orally challenged with a 10-fold dose of Livacox^® T anticoccidial vaccine to trigger coccidiosis. The results indicated that Eimeria-challenged broilers fed COM 100 and COM 200 diets increased (p < 0.05) body weight than CNT diet on day 35. Furthermore, birds fed COM 100 and COM 200 diets increased (p < 0.05) average daily gain compared to those fed CNT diets for the entire experimental period. There is no significant (p > 0.05) in average daily feed intake, feed efficiency between NCNT and birds fed with combined THB and oregano extracts for the entire experimental period. A combination of THB and oregano extract regardless of concentration levels or THB alone reduced (p < 0.05) lesion score in ileum compared to the CNT diet for 7 days post-infection (dpi). Birds fed COM 100 diet had lower (p < 0.05) intestinal lesion scores in jejunum and caeca on 7 dpi compared to those were in the CNT diet. No (p > 0.05) difference was observed in the oocysts per gram of feces count, intestinal morphology, carcass traits and blood cytokine concentration among the infected treatments. Collectively, we conclude that birds fed with a combination of THB and oregano extracts regardless of the ratios that were used demonstrated better recovery of health after the coccidial challenge than using only THB alone.