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Review
. 2014 Apr 28:5:23-34.
doi: 10.2147/VMRR.S57839. eCollection 2014.

Coccidiosis: recent advancements in the immunobiology of Eimeria species, preventive measures, and the importance of vaccination as a control tool against these Apicomplexan parasites

Chaitanya Shivaramaiah  1 , John R Barta  2 , Xochitl Hernandez-Velasco  3 , Guillermo Téllez  1 , Billy M Hargis  1
Affiliations
Review

Coccidiosis: recent advancements in the immunobiology of Eimeria species, preventive measures, and the importance of vaccination as a control tool against these Apicomplexan parasites

Chaitanya Shivaramaiah et al. Vet Med (Auckl). .

Abstract

Coccidiosis, caused by parasites of the genus Eimeria, is probably the most expensive parasitic disease of poultry. Species of Eimeria are ubiquitous where poultry are raised and are known to cause drastic reductions in performance and induce mortality, thereby affecting the overall health status of poultry. Chemotherapy has been the predominant form of disease control for many years, even though vaccination is steadily gaining importance as a feasible control method. The objective of this review is to highlight recent advancements in understanding the role of host immunity against coccidiosis. In addition, pros and cons associated with chemotherapy and the role of vaccination as an increasingly popular disease control method are discussed. Finally, the role played by recombinant vaccines as a potential vaccination tool is highlighted. With interest growing rapidly in understanding host-parasite biology, recent developments in designing recombinant vaccines and potential epitopes that have shown promise are mentioned.

Keywords: Eimeria; chemotherapy; coccidiosis; immunity; recombinant vaccines.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A multifactorial approach to coccidiosis: most common conditions that facilitate the development of disease.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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