A rapid technique for the cleaning and concentration of Eimeria oocysts

A technique using 1% sodium bicarbonate, ether and centrifugation was developed for cleaning oocyts of Eimeria tenella, E. maxima or E. mivati. The speed and efficiency of this technique was compared with the sedimentation technique currently used in many laboratories. Parameters measured were percent sporulation after cleaning and number of oocysts recovered. Suspensions of oocysts cleaned by bicarbonate and ether consistently yielded a similar or superior percent sporulation. In four of the five trials bicarbonate and ether recovered a larger number of oocysts from feces. To determine the storage stability of oocysts cleaned with bicarbonate and ether in comparison with sedimentation cleaned oocysts, suspensions of Eimeria tenella and E. mivati were stored at 4 degrees C. and atssayed initially after harvest and a three month intervals thereafter. The parameters of bird weight gain, lesion score, mortality and feed conversion were measured to test viability of oocysts. Bicarbonate and ether cleaning had no initial deleterious effect on oocyst viability. After 6 months storage, oocysts of Eimeria cleaned with bicarbonate and ether maintained viability similar or superior to oocysts cleaned by sedimentation.