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
                                            Jenkins, Mark
  Submitted to: Miscellaneous Publishing Information Bulletin
                                    Publication Type: Review Article
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 5/10/2004
                                    Publication  Date: 6/21/2004
                                    Citation: Jenkins, M.C. 2004. Control of avian coccidiosis:  drugs and vaccines. Miscellaneous Publishing Information Bulletin. Feed Information News  Service, p. 3.Interpretive Summary: Diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites continue to plague the poultry industry.  The growth of the worldwide poultry industry over the last half-century has been due in part to the use of measures to prevent and control these diseases.  Avian coccidiosis has been controlled during this time by the addition of anticoccidial compounds (synthetic drugs or ionophores) to poultry feed.  Without adequate control measures, this intestinal disease can wreak havoc in a poultry facility causing poor weight gain and feed utilization in affected chickens.  Outbreaks of coccidiosis occur in broilers primarily because of confined housing conditions and because the transmission stage (oocysts) of the parasite remains infectious for months after being shed by infected birds. While immunity probably plays some role in limiting coccidiosis, past and current control of these parasites has relied mostly on medication of feed with anticoccidial compounds.  The reason drugs have been so successful is that they are generally effective against all species of coccidia.  A number of compounds have been and are currently being used to control this disease.  The use of a particular drug may be discontinued if it is no longer effective in controlling coccidiosis due to the appearance of drug-resistant strains of Eimeria.  The poultry industry facing repeated drug resistance, the lack of new anti-coccidial compounds, and consumer pressure to decrease antibiotics in animal feed, will be forced to seek alternative strategies to control avian coccidiosis. One strategy that has been used to limited extent for several decades is vaccination with live Eimeria oocysts.  This approach is based on the well-documented protective immunity that develops in chickens after a primary coccidial infection.  At least 9 different live oocyst vaccines are available on a commercial basis.  In preliminary studies, these vaccines have proven equal to drugs in controlling outbreaks of coccidiosis.
                                Technical Abstract: The growth of the worldwide poultry industry over the last 50 years is due in part to the use of medicated feed to control avian coccidiosis.  Without adequate control measures, this intestinal disease can wreak havoc in a poultry facility causing poor weight gain and feed utilization in affected chickens.  Outbreaks of coccidiosis occur in broilers primarily because of confined housing conditions and because the transmission stage (oocysts) of the parasite remains infectious for months after being shed by infected birds. While immunity probably plays some role in limiting coccidiosis, past and current control of these parasites has relied mostly on medication of feed with anticoccidial compounds.  The reason drugs have been so successful is that they are generally effective against all species of coccidia.  A number of compounds have been and are currently being used to control this disease.  The use of a particular drug may be discontinued if it is no longer effective in controlling coccidiosis due to the appearance of drug-resistant strains of Eimeria.  The poultry industry facing repeated drug resistance, the lack of new anti-coccidial compounds, and consumer pressure to decrease antibiotics in animal feed, will be forced to seek alternative strategies to control avian coccidiosis. One strategy that has been used to limited extent for several decades is vaccination with live Eimeria oocysts.  This approach is based on the well-documented protective immunity that develops in chickens after a primary coccidial infection.  At least 9 different live oocyst vaccines are available on a commercial basis.  In preliminary studies, these vaccines have proven equal to drugs in controlling outbreaks of 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