Immune response and protective efficacy of Eimeria tenella recombinant refractile body protein, EtSO7, in chickens

Refractile body protein, SO7, is a highly immunogenic protein which is essentially involved in the early development of Eimeria species infecting the domestic chicken. In the present study, the immune response and protective efficacy of recombinant Eimeria tenella SO7 (rEtSO7) protein was assessed in broiler chickens following homologous oocyst challenge. Broiler chicks were subcutaneously immunized with rEtSO7 antigen adjuvanted with Montanide ISA 71 VG on 7 and 21 days of age and protective efficacy of vaccination was evaluated in terms of body weight gain, lesion score and reduction in oocyst output. The peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation, serum IgY response, and levels of interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 4 (IL-4), tumor growth factor beta (TGF-β) and nitric oxide (NO) were assessed. The results revealed significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the oocyst output and increased weight gain in immunized birds as compared to unimmunized birds. Significantly increased levels of serum IgY, IFN-γ and proliferation of lymphocytes were evident in rEtSO7 immunized chickens. The results demonstrated that the recombinant protein could effectively elicit the cellular and humoral immune responses in immunized chickens, and provided significant protection against caecal coccidiosis in chickens.