Science Letters

Veterinary / Animal Sciences | Review article | https://doi.org/10.47262/SL/8.2/132020007

Advancements in Research Related to Vaccination Against Avian Coccidiosis

Raza Ali Shahid, Muhammed Ali Shah*, Aayesha Riaz

Department of Parasitology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animals Sciences, PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Abstract

Coccidiosis is a fatal disease of poultry, caused by Eimeria species and considered the most prominent and destructive disease within all protozoal diseases. Chemotherapy is considered the main preventive strategy against coccidiosis. Chemotherapy is partially successful and has many drawbacks as it is practiced after the outbreak of disease, until then coccidiosis causes huge production and health losses. As an alternative, prophylactic measures like vaccination and management betterment are of eminent importance and can help to overcome this disease. Vaccination can induce antibody-mediated immunity, cell-mediated immunity or both. However, ordinary vaccines do not offer enough potential to overcome Eimeria species at its full extent. Different research trials and studies have shown that DNA vaccines can induce both antibody and cell-mediated immunity. Several DNA vaccines have been tested in the last few years with marvelous results but still no vaccine is available commercially. Here we will discuss different types of vaccines against Eimeria, especially in poultry. A comparative analysis along with the recent advancements will reveal the types of vaccines that bear sufficient potential to overcome Eimeria species to its full extent. This review will also describe the fruitful and advanced steps towards the synthesis of molecular vaccines in the future.