Journal
VACCINES
Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10020215
Keywords
coccidiosis; Eimeria; poultry; immunity; vaccine; alternatives to antibiotics
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This review summarizes the current understanding of the host immune response to avian coccidiosis and discusses various non-antibiotic strategies being developed for coccidiosis control. The use of immune-based strategies can improve host defense against parasites and reduce intestinal damage caused by parasite-induced inflammation.
Coccidiosis is an avian intestinal disease caused by several distinct species of Eimeria parasites that damage the host's intestinal system, resulting in poor nutrition absorption, reduced growth, and often death. Increasing evidence from recent studies indicates that immune-based strategies such as the use of recombinant vaccines and various dietary immunomodulating feed additives can improve host defense against intracellular parasitism and reduce intestinal damage due to inflammatory responses induced by parasites. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions between the host immune system, gut microbiota, enteroendocrine system, and parasites that contribute to the outcome of coccidiosis is necessary to develop logical strategies to control coccidiosis in the post-antibiotic era. Most important for vaccine development is the need to understand the protective role of the local intestinal immune response and the identification of various effector molecules which mediate anti-coccidial activity against intracellular parasites. This review summarizes the current understanding of the host immune response to coccidiosis in poultry and discusses various non-antibiotic strategies which are being developed for coccidiosis control. A better understanding of the basic immunobiology of pertinent host-parasite interactions in avian coccidiosis will facilitate the development of effective anti-Eimeria strategies to mitigate the negative effects of coccidiosis.
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