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Updated: Jun 22, 2026
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Nucleofection and In Vivo Propagation of Chicken Eimeria Parasites
Published on: February 14, 2020
Past and future: vaccination against Eimeria.
1Centre for Gastroenterology, Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Barts and the London School of Medicine, Newark St., London, UK. v.mcdonald@qmul.ac.uk
Parasitology
|June 16, 2009
Summary
To combat coccidiosis in poultry, scientists attenuated Eimeria species by serial passage, creating effective live vaccines. This method depletes asexual development while retaining immunizing capacity, offering a viable alternative to chemotherapy.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Parasitology
- Immunology
- Poultry Health
Background:
- Coccidiosis, caused by Eimeria species, is a significant disease in poultry, leading to morbidity and mortality.
- Current control relies heavily on chemotherapy, but drug resistance is a growing concern.
- Naturally acquired immunity against Eimeria is strong but species-specific.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for attenuating Eimeria species for use in live vaccines.
- To assess the immunogenicity and efficacy of attenuated Eimeria strains.
Main Methods:
- Serial passage of Eimeria species in chickens, selecting for early oocyst production.
- This process aimed to deplete asexual development stages within the host.
- Evaluation of the attenuated strains' ability to induce protective immunity.
Main Results:
- Stable attenuation of all 7 chicken Eimeria species was achieved through serial passage.
- The attenuated strains, despite reduced asexual development, retained their immunizing capacity.
- This led to the development and commercialization of the live attenuated vaccine, Paracox.
Conclusions:
- Live attenuated vaccines derived from serial passage represent a successful strategy for coccidiosis control in poultry.
- These vaccines offer a valuable alternative to chemotherapy, addressing drug resistance issues.
- Reliance on live, attenuated vaccines is expected to increase as research into recombinant vaccines continues.
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