In International Journal of Poultry Science, Suhair R. Al-Idreesi of Damascus University and co-authors there and at Al-Baath University report that chickens were protected against coccidiosis induced by E. tenella by using 125,000 dead sporozoites that were injected in neck subcutaneously with two doses at 3rd and 16th days of age.

Efficacy of this vaccine was estimated after challenge by determination some parameters like protection rate which was around 96 per cent.

The number of oocysts and caecal lesion score from the chickens in the immunised groups were decreased lower than the contols (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively).

The vaccine had no adverse effect on bodyweight. The immunised groups were heavier than the control groups after challenge.

The Anticoccidial Index demonstrated the effectiveness of the vaccine, the researchers report.

Al-Idreesi and co-authors add that the immunogenicity of vaccine was studied by using SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Seven polypeptides had been estimated more immunogenic after probe with chickens serum at 39 days of age; their molecular weight are (12.3, 13.68, 18.7, 39, 59.5 and 77.3) KD.

Reference

^{Al-Idreesi S.R., M. Kweider and M.M. Katranji. 2013. Immunization of broiler with dead sporozoites as vaccine against Eimeria tenella parasite. International Journal of Poultry Science 12 (5):280-288.}