EFFECT OF EGG ADAPTED GAMETOCYTIC VACCINE (LOCAL ISOLATES) ON LESION SCORE IN COCCIDIOSIS IN POULTRY

Abstract

An egg adapted gametocytes (Local isolates) E. tenella, vaccine(s) were used against coccidiosis in chickens. A total of two hundred day old chicks were utilized in this study. On day fifth of their age, they were divided into four groups, viz Group-I, group-II, Group-III and Group-IV having 50 chicks in each groups. These groups were distributed as; Group-I, Group-II, Group-III and Group-IV and were administered vaccine(s) for immunization orally viz; Vaccine I (gametocytes), to chicks of Group-I, Vaccine II (gametocytes inactivated) to Group-II, Vaccine III (gametocytes sonicated inactivated) to Group-IIII and Group-IV served as control given normal saline. On day 15th post- immunization, chicks were challenged with 60,000–70,000 sporulatedoocysts of mixed species of Eimeria. On day 21st post vaccination, birds were subjected to postmortem and their lesions score were recorded. A maximum of 46 (92%) birds having lesions in intestine and caeca of Group-IV were observed while a minimum of 17 (34%) birds having slight lesions in intestine and caeca were observed in Group-III. There was non-significant difference (P>0.05) in lesions score of Group-I, II and IV. Lesions scores in Group-III were significantly different (P>0.05) from Group-I, II and IV. It is concluded that on the basis of lesions score the egg-adapted vaccine saved the chicks against coccidiosis on challenge.