Comparative analysis of egg adapted vaccines and salinomycin against coccidiosis in chicks

Avian coccidiosis is an intestinal protozoan parasitic disease of genus Eimeria. Wide use of anticoccidial drugs has resulted in development of drug resistant strains. Current study is based upon the development of egg adapted vaccines; gametocytes, formalin inactivated and formalin inactivated sonicated gametocytes against coccidiosis. Day old chicks (n = 90) were divided into six groups (A-F) with triplicate. On 5th day of age, three groups were orally given developed vaccines (0.2 ml) while on 21st day groups (A-E) were challenged orally with mixed Eimeria spp (60-70,000 oocysts/chick). The comparative effect of vaccines and drug salinomycin was evaluated on basis of different parameters. Blood, liver and caecal tissues were collected on 5th, 7th and 15th day post infection for indirect hemagglutination test, biochemical analysis and histopathology. Significantly higher body weight gain, feed consumption, mild bloody diarrhea with lowest oocyst count and survival rate of 100% was recorded for gametocytes vaccinated group (P < 0.05). Indirect hemagglutination test showed maximum antibodies titer (IgG) in gametocytes vaccinated group. Present investigation revealed that gametocyte vaccines was significantly effective in control of coccidiosis by inducing strong protection in immune chicks contained high level of antibodies that resisted heavy dose of challenge as compared to anticoccidial drug salinomycin.