U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Yamage, Matasukeitem
                                            Lillehoj, Hyun
  Submitted to: Advances In Medical and Veterinary Vitology Immunology and Epidemiology
                                    Publication Type: Book / Chapter
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2002
                                    Publication  Date: N/A
                                    Citation: N/AInterpretive Summary: Coccidiosis, an intestinal infection caused by intracellular protozoan parasites belonging to several different species of Eimeria, costs the poultry industry more than $600 million in annual losses.  Infection with coccidia parasites seriously impairs the growth and feed utilization of livestock and poultry.  In this review article, ARS scientists review  current knowledge on avian immunity and host immunobiology of avian coccidiosis in chickens.  This information will provide rational background information that is useful for the development of novel control strategy against coccidiosis.  Current control method using drugs  will need to be replaced by non-drug-dependent method due to an increasing drug resistance of coccidia and increasing consumer's concern on the presence of drug residues in food supply. Therefore, alternative control strategy against coccidiosis needs to be developed. In this paper, ARS scientists, in  collaboration with scientists at University of Maryland, investigated the effect of probiotic dietary supplement on host immune response against coccidiosis.  Results show for the first time that probiotics enhanced local cell-mediated immunity and increased host resistance against coccidiosis in chickens.  These results provide optimism that increased basic knowledge on the interaction of nutrition and host immune system will generate novel control strategy against coccidiosis.
                                Technical Abstract: Major protozoa which afflict chickens include 7 or 8 spp. of poultry coccidia (genus Eimeria causing avian coccidiosis. Demands for more efficient poultry production and intensive poultry-rearing practices have led to the heightened risks of disease transmission and major economic losses due to infectious diseases.  Avian coccidiosis, the major parasitic  disease of poultry, causes more than $600 million in losses in prophylacti medication and this number is expected to rise due to the cost involved in developing new drugs. Economic losses due to coccidiosis include mortality, malabsorption, inefficient feed utilization and impaired growth rate in broilers, and a temporary reduction of egg production in the layers. Although chemotherapy has been extensively used to control coccidiosis, the increasing incidence of drug resistant coccidia and the escalating public anxiety over the chemical residues in the meat and eggs mandates the  development of alternative methods to control coccidiosis.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov