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
                                            DALLUL, RAMI - USDA,ARS,ANRI,APDLitem
                                            Lillehoj, Hyun
  Submitted to: Avian Diseases
                                    Publication Type: Review Article
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2005
                                    Publication  Date: 6/5/2005
                                    Citation: Dallul, R.A., Lillehoj, H.S. 2005. Recent advances in immunomodulation and vaccination strategies against coccidiosis. Avian Diseases. 48:1-8.Interpretive Summary: Avian coccidiosis is caused by at least 6 different strains of Eimeria parasites and causes severe damage to the gut of chickens.  Currently coccidiosis is controlled by prophylactic medication and vaccination with live commercial parasite vaccines.  Due to increasing concerns of consumers on using chemicals in the food products, there is an increasing interest to develop drug-free methods to control coccidiosis.  In this paper, ARS scientists review the current state-of-the-art in the coccidiosis vaccine development research and present new findings on the use of immunomodulators to enhance intestinal immune response against coccidiosis and other poultry diseases. In this paper, the authors propose various ways to devise new immunoenhancing strategies by modulating the host's own immune system.  These strategies include using proteins which are naturally produced by host immune system such as cytokines and some antimicrobial products made by host cells which have  known influence on the mucosal physical integrity and immune system.  As proposed in this paper, various nutritional modulation of host immune response will lead a new way to devise safe, drug-independent control strategies against many poultry pathogens.
                                Technical Abstract: Coccidiosis is a ubiquitous intestinal protozoan infection of poultry seriously impairing the growth and feed utilization of infected animals.  Conventional disease control strategies rely heavily on chemoprophylaxis costing the industry tremendously.  Existing vaccines comprise live virulent or attenuated Eimeria strains with limited scope of protection against an ever evolving and widespread pathogen.  The continual emergence of drug resistant strains of Eimeria, coupled with the increasing regulations and bans on the use of anticoccidial drugs in commercial poultry production, urges the need for novel approaches and alternative control strategies.  Due to the complexity of the host immunity and the parasite life cycle, comprehensive understanding of host-parasite interactions and protective immune mechanisms becomes necessary for successful prevention and control practices.  Recent progress in functional genomics technology would facilitate the identification and characterization of host genes involved in immune responses as well as parasite genes and proteins that eliciting protective host responses.  This review will highlight recent developments in coccidiosis research and provide information on host immunity, immunomodulation, and the latest advances in live and recombinant vaccine development against coccidiosis.  Such information will magnify our understanding of host-parasite biology, mucosal immunology, and design of future nutritional interventions and vaccination strategies for 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