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, Markitem
                                            ALLEN, PATRICIA - RETIRED USDA CHEMISTitem
                                            WILKINS, GARY - RETIRED USDA ZOOLOGISTitem
                                            KLOPP, S - TOWNSENDS POULTRY, DEitem
                                            Miska, Kate
  Submitted to: Veterinary Parasitology
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 4/24/2008
                                    Publication  Date: 7/11/2008
                                    Citation: Jenkins, M.C., Allen, P., Wilkins, G., Klopp, S., Miska, K.B. 2008. Eimeria praecox infection ameliorates effects of e. maxima infection in chickens. 155:10-14.Interpretive Summary: Avian coccidiosis is an intestinal disease primarily of poultry that causes U.S. broiler producers an annual loss of over $ 350 million, with losses worldwide exceeding $ 1 billion.  The disease has been controlled for decades by medication of feed with anti-coccidial drugs, but the appearance of drug-resistant strains of Eimeria and increased consumer pressure to reduce use of medicated feeds has prompted alternative control measures.  One approach that has met with success is vaccination of day-old chicks with a mixture of low doses of virulent or attenuated Eimeria oocysts.  Our studies have shown that one species, namely E. praecox, is prevalent in poultry farms using either drugs or vaccines.  The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of E. praecox on other species of Eimeria.  This was done for two reasons- (1) to determine if including E. praecox in a vaccine formulation would affect clinical signs associated with vaccination, and (2) to understand the lower pathogenicity of E. praecox.  Our research found that E. praecox can ameliorate the clinical effects of E. maxima infection.  These findings may have implications for new vaccines, and provide clues on the pathogenicity of and immunity to Eimeria.
                                Technical Abstract: The effect of Eimeria praecox on concurrent E. maxima infection was studied in susceptible chickens. Cinical signs of coccidiosis were assessed in single infections with E. praecox or E. maxima and dual infection with both Eimeria species.  Compared to uninfected controls, groups infected with 104 E. maxima oocysts displayed a 60% weight gain depression, which was four-fold greater than weight gain depression in chickens infected only with 104 E. praecox oocysts.  Average weight gain in chickens infected with both E. maxima and E. praecox was nearly identical to that in E. praecox-infected chickens.  Feed utilization (feed conversion ratio, FCR) in mixed-species infection was identical to FCR in non-infected controls or chickens infected with E. praecox alone; all showing a significant difference from  solitary E. maxima infection.  Although E. praecox did not appear to have a negative effect on weight gain and FCR, it did cause a significant decrease in serum carotenoids.  Analysis of oocysts excreted by chickens during dual infection showed little effect of E. praecox on E. maxima oocyst production.


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