Immunogenicity and Protective Efficacy of Probiotics with EtIMP1C against Eimeria tenella Challenge

Coccidiosis is an endemic problem in broilers inflicting disastrous losses to worldwide poultry industry. Vaccines are generally effective in controlling the infectious diseases; the subunit vaccines effectiveness can hopefully be improved with concurrent use of probiotics as assessed in this experiment using an Eimeria tenella challenge. Immune mapped protein-1 (IMP1) is a novel immunogenic protein of Apicomplexans, including in Eimeria tenella. Anticoccidial performance of the cumulative effect of probiotics and EtIMP1C (Part of Eimeria tenella immune mapped protein1) was evaluated based on various parameters such as an intestinal lesion, oocyst scores, feed conversion ratio, and organ weight. Data were also analyzed on both immunological and hematological parameters. The EtIMP1C and probiotics administered group showed less intestinal lesion, decreased oocyst shedding, satisfactory feed conversion ratio (FCR) and improved hematological parameters as compared to EtIMP1C emulsified with FCA group. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05), in aspect of lesion and oocyst scores, as well as immunological and hematological parameters. The experimental work showed that probiotics could be a good hope due to its antioxidant, immunomodulatory and growth promoting effect against poultry coccidiosis alone or in combination with vaccines, including IMP1C based vaccine, but further studies are required to formulate its dose with the vaccine as well as a different strain of probiotics effect against coccidiosis. (C) 2021 PVJ. All rights reserved

Automated summary

This study evaluated the cumulative effect of probiotics and EtIMP1C on coccidiosis prevention, with the group administered with both showing less intestinal lesion, reduced oocyst shedding, satisfactory feed conversion ratio (FCR) and improved hematological parameters compared to the group with EtIMP1C alone. Although there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of lesion and oocyst scores, as well as immunological and hematological parameters, probiotics show promise in combating poultry coccidiosis either alone or in combination with vaccines, including IMP1C based vaccine.