Eimeria tenella (Eucoccidiorida): a quantitative assay for sporozoite infectivity in vivo

A quantitative technique for the assessment of sporozoite infectivity in vivo, using intra-cecal inoculation of Eimeria tenella sporozoites, has been developed. Evaluation of the infection using cecal lesion scores and oocyst counts showed that this technique should be useful for the quantitation of sporozoite viability and thus for the anti-sporozoite activity of different treatments prior to inoculation. Pre-treatment of sporozoites with heat-inactivated hyperimmune antisera neutralized sporozoite infectivity in vivo and indicated that antibodies in the absence of complement inhibited sporozoite infectivity in vivo.