Effects of mushroom and herb polysaccharides, as alternatives for an antibiotic, on growth performance of broilers

(1) This in vivo trial was conducted to study the effects of polysaccharide extracts of two mushrooms, Lentinus edodes (LenE) and Tremella fuciformis (TreE), and a herb, Astragalus membranaceus (AstE) on growth performance, and the weights of organs and the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of broiler chickens. (2) Three extracts (LenE, TreE and AstE) were supplemented at inclusion rates of 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4 g/kg from 7 to 14 d of age and compared with an antibiotic treatment group (20 mg/kg, virginiamycin (VRG) as well as a group of non-supplemented birds. (3) Body weight (BW) gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the extract-supplemented groups were not significantly different from those of the antibiotic group. Significant effects of type of extract and concentration on growth performance were found from 7 to 28 d of age. Generally, birds fed with LenE showed higher BW gain and lower FCR from 7 to 28 d of age than those fed with TreE and AstE and 2 g/kg LenE was considered the optimal inclusion rate for enhanced broiler growth. However, the extracts had no significant effect on the relative weights of organs and GIT compared with the antibiotic group. (4) The birds fed the extracts showed better growth performance than the non-supplemented birds, but were not significantly different from those fed VRG. Of the three extracts, LenE appeared to be a potential growth promoter. Future studies are needed to investigate whether the extracts can be used as alternatives for antibiotic growth promoters in challenged birds, and to elucidate the mechanisms for potentially enhanced growth performance in poultry.     

多糖和寡糖的体外发酵特性及其对鸡盲肠微生物菌群的影响

本研究采用体外累积发酵产气法和16SrDNA指纹图谱鉴定技术研究了来自香菇、银耳和黄芪的天然免疫活性多糖(LenE,TreE和AstE)及酵母胞壁甘露寡糖(MOS)对鸡肠道微生物菌群及其发酵特性的影响。结果表明,三种多糖提取物的总糖含量均占干物质的60%以上,而MOS总糖含量在90%以上。多糖和寡糖具有不同的发酵模式;MOS、AstE和LenE三种糖的发酵模式相似,呈一阶段发酵模式;TreE呈两阶段的发酵模式。三种糖中,MOS和AstE发酵速度较TreE快。MOS和AstE在发酵后总VFA产量最高,pH最低;黄芪多糖发酵后产生较多的直链脂肪酸和较低的氨。这些多糖和寡糖提取物影响肠道微生物的活性和组成成分,体现在发酵模式和发酵终产物的显著改变上。以上研究结果表明,来自香菇、银耳和黄芪的天然免疫活性多糖(LenE,TreE和AstE)及酵母胞壁甘露寡糖(MOS)在体外发酵后,均具有显著改变鸡盲肠微生物发酵终产物的含量和盲肠微生物活性的作用。     

Coccidiosis control with toltrazuril in conjunction with anticoccidial medicated or nonmedicated feed

A 42-day broiler floor pen study was conducted comparing the anticoccidial efficacy of toltrazuril (Baycox) as a stand alone treatment and as an additional treatment to in-feed anticoccidial programs. Toltrazuril was administered on days 18 and 19 in the drinking water at 7 mg/kg of body weight. The treatments were 125 ppm nicarbazin (days 0-14) to 66 ppm salinomycin (SAL) (days 15-35) with and without toltrazuril, SAL (days 0-35) with and without toltrazuril, nonmedicated (NM) to SAL with toltrazuril, and NM with and without toltrazuril. The controls were NM noninfected and infected. The treatments were replicated in five blocks of eight pens each in a randomized complete block design. All withdrawal feed was nonmedicated. On day 14, birds, except noninfected, were exposed to coccidial oocysts (Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria maxima, and Eimeria tenella) seeded litter. On days 21, 28, 35, and 42, birds and feed were weighed, four birds per pen were coccidial lesion scored, and litter oocyst counts were performed. The coccidial infection in the NM infected treatment caused a significant (P < 0.05) coccidiosis infection. Coccidiosis was moderately controlled in the anticoccidial treatment birds without toltrazuril. Performance in the NM with toltrazuril was equal to or better (P < 0.05) than the anticoccidial programs without toltrazuril. Toltrazuril was equal to the noninfected birds in performance. Toltrazuril most completely eliminated all coccidial lesions and dramatically reduced oocyst shedding. The performance data, lesion scores, and oocyst counts showed that a 2-day treatment with toltrazuril successfully controlled the coccidiosis with no relapse of infection. Toltrazuril can thus be used for supplemental control with in-feed anticoccidials or as a primary anticoccidial with nonmedicated feed.     

Possibilities of bacteremia and toxemia in death of chickens infected with Eimeria tenella

The possibility that bacteremia and toxemia were the causes of death in cases of cecal coccidiosis was investigated. Germ-free and ordinary chickens with microflora were inoculated with sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella. At 5 days postinoculation, cecal lesions in ordinary chickens were more severe than those in germ-free ones. Cardiac blood, spleen, and liver were examined in ordinary chickens for bacteremia and endotoxemia, and small numbers of bacteria were recovered from both infected and uninfected birds. Endotoxin levels in plasma of E. tenella-infected birds were low and not different from the levels of uninfected controls. To examine unknown toxic factors, a large volume of serum from infected chickens was injected intravenously into uninfected birds. No significant clinical signs were observed. It is concluded that the intestinal bacteria increase the severity of coccidial lesions without bacteremia and toxemia.     

柔嫩艾美耳球虫感染对鸡盲肠中氧化-还原电位及pH值的影响

本文对鸡感染柔嫩艾美耳球虫时盲肠中氧化－还原电位和ＰＨ值的变化情况进行了研究。鸡在感染球虫后第７、１０、１４ｄ时盲肠中的ＰＨ值呈显著下降,且氧化－还原电位显著地向氧化相移动 。结果表明：柔嫩艾美耳球虫感染所引起的肠炎沙门氏菌感染增强现象可能至少与球虫感染时的氧化还原电位和ｐＨ值的改变相关。     

Co-expression of EtMic2 protein and chicken interleukin-18 for DNA vaccine against chicken coccidiosis

In the present study, a naked EtMIC2 DNA vaccine, a ChIL-18 expression vector and a EtMIC2 and ChIL-18 co-expression DNA vaccine were constructed and their protective efficacies against homologous challenge were compared and evaluated by examining the body weight gain, oocyst shedding, cecal lesion, ACI as well as specific anti-EtMic2 antibody level, the proliferation ability and percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ of splenocytes. The results showed the naked EtMIC2 DNA vaccine could increase the weight gain and decrease the oocyst shedding, but could not alleviate the cecal lesion of immunized chickens compared to unimmunized chickens. Chickens immunized with the co-expression vector pVAX1-MIC2-IL-18 exhibited much improved immune protection against challenge compared to chickens immunized with naked EtMIC2 DNA vaccine, or with naked EtMIC2 DNA vaccine and ChIL-18 expression vector applied separately. These results suggest that the co-expression of ChIL-18 with EtMic2 together could significantly improve the immune protection of the EtMic2 protein.     

Inhibitory effect of dietary anacardic acid supplementation on cecal lesion formation following chicken coccidial infection

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects on male chicken performance of anacardic acid and cashew nut shell oil as feed supplements during an experimental coccidial infection. Seven-day-old chicks wer e fed a corn-soybean diet containing anacardic acid at 0, 0.4 or 0.8% (Experiment 1), or cashew nut shell oil at 0, 0.1, 0.2 or 0.4% (Experiment 2) for 10 days. On the third day of each experiment, half of the birds fed each diet were individually inoculated orally with 2 × 10³ or 5 × 10⁴ (Experiment 1) and 1 × 10⁴ or 1 × 10⁵ (Experiment 2) Eimeria tenella oocysts. In Experiment 1, body weight gain and cecal length decreased significantly according to the level of oocyst inoculation, while oocyst production per cecum (log value) and cecal lesion score significantly increased. Dietary anacardic acid supplementation had no effect on these parameters except for that of lesion score, which was improved (i.e. decreased) by anacardic acid supplementation of 0.8% at the inoculation level of 2 × 10³ oocysts, and of 0.4 and 0.8% for the higher inoculation (5 × 10⁴ oocysts). Results of Experiment 2 also showed that cashew nut shell oil affected neither cecal length nor oocyst production per cecum (log value) at either of the inoculation levels, but the lesion score was improved by cashew nut shell oil supplementation at 0.2 and 0.4% in the diet at the inoculation level of 1 × 10⁴ oocysts and at 0.4% for the higher inoculation. The present study provides the first evidence of the reducing effects of anacardic acid and cashew nut shell oil on the severity of cecal lesions in chickens during an experimental coccidial infection.     

Improvements to the hemagglutination inhibition test for serological assessment of recombinant fowlpox-H5-avian-influenza vaccination in chickens and its use along with an agar gel immunodiffusion test for differentiating infected from noninfected vaccinated animals

In general, avian influenza (AI) vaccines protect chickens from morbidity and mortality and reduce, but do not completely prevent, replication of wild AI viruses in the respiratory and intestinal tracts of vaccinated chickens. Therefore, surveillance programs based on serological testing must be developed to differentiate vaccinated flocks infected with wild strains of AI virus from noninfected vaccinated flocks in order to evaluate the success of vaccination in a control program and allow continuation of national and international commerce of poultry and poultry products. In this study, chickens were immunized with a commercial recombinant fowlpox virus vaccine containing an H5 hemagglutinin gene from A/turkey/Ireland/83 (H5N8) avian influenza (AI) virus (rFP-H5) and evaluated for correlation of immunological response by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) or agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) tests and determination of protection following challenge with a high pathogenicity AI (HPAI) virus. In two different trials, chickens immunized with the rFP-H5 vaccine did not develop AGID antibodies because the vaccine lacks AI nucleoprotein and matrix genes, but 0%-100% had HI antibodies, depending on the AI virus strain used in the HI test, the HI antigen inactivation procedure, and whether the birds had been preimmunized against fowlpox virus. The most consistent and highest HI titers were observed when using A/turkey/Ireland/83 (H5N8) HPAI virus strain as the beta-propiolactone (BPL)-inactivated HI test antigen, which matched the hemagglutinin gene insert in the rFP-H5 vaccine. In addition, higher HI titers were observed if ether or a combination of ether and BPL-inactivated virus was used in place of the BPL-inactivated virus. The rFP-H5 vaccinated chickens survived HPAI challenge and antibodies were detected by both AGID and HI tests. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the rFP-H5 vaccine allowed easy serological differentiation of infected from noninfected birds in vaccinated populations of chickens when using standard AGID and HI tests.     

检测鸡球虫四价弱毒疫苗抗体应答的ELISA方法的建立及初步应用

本研究旨在建立检测鸡球虫四价弱毒疫苗(柔嫩艾美耳球虫、毒害艾美耳球虫、堆型艾美耳球虫、巨型艾美耳球虫)抗体应答的酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA),并初步阐明鸡免疫四价弱毒疫苗及攻虫后的抗体应答。将300羽岭南黄鸡分为A(免疫攻虫组)、B(不免疫不攻虫组)、C(不免疫攻虫组)共3个组。A组雏鸡在4日龄时进行首免,11日龄时鸡开始二免,二免完成后(17日龄时)对A组及C组的鸡进行攻虫(28万个4种球虫的混合卵囊/羽),7 d后检查A、C两组鸡的存活率。在鸡二免和三免完成后,分别对A、B组进行采血,通过优化最佳抗原包被浓度、酶结合物工作浓度及最佳血清稀释度,建立了ELISA方法来检测鸡体对球虫四价弱毒疫苗的抗体应答情况。A组鸡血清抗体的平均D值为0.870和0.904,明显高于B组鸡的平均D值0.261和0.270,证明了鸡体免疫疫苗后可以刺激产生相应抗体。免疫鸡攻虫后的存活率和抗体应答的检测结果,都充分说明了此鸡球虫弱毒四价疫苗具有良好的免疫原性,所建立的ELISA方法为今后评价鸡球虫弱毒四价疫苗的免疫效力提供了有效手段。     

Orally administered attenuated Salmonella enteritidis reduces chicken cecal carriage of virulent Salmonella challenge organisms

Chickens were immunized orally with 10(9)cfu of the temperature-sensitive (T(s)) mutant E/1/3 of Salmonella enteritidis at 1, 2, 3 and 7 days of age. The animals were challenged with wild-type strains of Salmonella of different serotypes 7 or 14 days following immunization. Chickens receiving multiple oral doses of the vaccine strain showed no signs of disease. Immunized animals shed the vaccine strain for at least 2 weeks after the last inoculation; on the other hand, colonization by the attenuated mutant of internal organs such as spleen and liver was limited. Early exposure of the immunized animals to the virulent bacteria resulted in a reduced cecal colonization by the pathogen. Visceral invasion by the wild-type strain of S. enteritidis or S. gallinarum was drastically diminished in birds challenged 14 days after immunization. Significant differences in the number of these Salmonella were found in the cecal contents, spleen and liver of immunized birds compared with the control animals. In addition, cecal colonization by the virulent strain was reduced in birds challenged with S. typhimurium. These results demonstrate that immunization of newly hatched chickens with live attenuated T(s) mutant E/1/3 of S. enteritidis is safe and reduces Salmonella shedding.     

Dietary supplementation of phenyllactic acid on growth performance,immune response,cecal microbial population,and meat quality attributes of broiler chickens

A total of 750 one-day-old male broiler chicks were randomly fed 5 dietary treatments with 5 replicate pens per treatment. The 5 dietary treatments fed for 42 d were a corn-soybean meal basal diet without antibiotic (control); a mixture of 10 ppm of avilamycin + 60 ppm of salinomycin as antibiotic growth promoters (AGP); 0.1% phenyllactic acid (PLA); 0.2% PLA; and 0.4% PLA. The BW gain and FE were significantly improved in AGP and PLA groups compared with control group. The white blood cells and heterophil counts were significantly higher in the PLA-supplemented groups compared with AGP and control groups, but the heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was lower in the control group than other groups. The plasma IgY concentration was significantly increased in birds fed PLA-supplemented diets, but the plasma IgA and IgM concentrations were not different among the treatment groups. In addition, the antibody titer against Newcastle disease virus was significantly higher in PLA-treated compared with control and AGP-treated groups. Neither PLA nor AGP treatments affected the cecal aerobes andSalmonella content; however, cecalLactobacillus population increased in chickens fed 0.1% PLA, and total coliform bacteria population significantly decreased in chickens fed various levels of PLA and AGP. Dietary supplementation of PLA did not affect the pH, lightness, and redness of breast meat, but the water-holding capacity and shear force value increased and the yellowness decreased significantly when birds were fed PLA. It was concluded that dietary supplementation of 0.1 and 0.2% PLA improves BW gain and FE of broiler chickens. In addition, PLA supplementation increases the immune characteristics and the number of lactic acid bacteria, decreases the number of coliform bacteria, and improves the meat quality attributes of broiler chickens. Thus, dietary PLA could be a viable alternative to antibiotics in broiler diets.     

Influence of in ovo administered Cryptosporidium baileyi oocyst extract on the course of homologous infection

In order to evaluate the effect of in ovo vaccination on avian cryptosporidiosis, two doses (1 and 10microg) of Cryptosporidium baileyi oocyst extract (OE) were injected into the amnionic sac of embryonated, specific pathogen-free chicken eggs. After hatching these birds as well as infected controls (IC) were inoculated with 8x10(5) C. baileyi oocysts at 10 days of age. Another group of chickens remained uninfected (UC). Faecal oocyst shedding was measured every second day, and weekly ELISAs were performed to monitor seroconversion. Those chickens that received OE during embryogenesis showed dose-dependent shift in their oocyst shedding, with higher oocyst output of OE1 and OE10 birds compared to IC ones. The patency was significantly longer in the OE10 group than in IC or OE1. ELISA results showed low seroconversion of OE1 and OE10 chickens prior to homologous challenge. Challenge infection resulted in antibody levels without significant difference between IC, OE1 and OE10 groups. These data suggest that in ovo vaccination with C. baileyi oocyst extract does not promote immune response, moreover, it may impair immunity and thus delay the clearance of cryptosporidia from chickens.     

Anticoccidial effect of green tea-based diets against Eimeria maxima

Anticoccidial effects of green tea (GT)-based diets were evaluated in chickens following oral infection with Eimeria maxima an ubiquitous intestinal parasite of poultry that impairs the growth and feed efficiency of infected birds. Five-week-old chickens were assigned to four groups (GT 0.5%, GT 2.0%, untreated/infected and non-infected control) and each group consisted of 15 chickens. Chickens were fed a standard diet supplemented with ground green tea for 2 weeks prior to infection with E. maxima (10,000 sporulated oocysts per bird). The effects of green tea on E. maxima infection were assessed by two parameters, fecal oocyst shedding and body weight gain. The green tea-fed chickens produced significantly reduced fecal oocysts (P<0.05) when compared to the E. maxima-infected group fed standard diet. The green tea-based diet, however, did not improve body weight loss caused by E. maxima infection. This study is the first to demonstrate anticoccidial effect of green tea on Eimeria parasites.     

Anticoccidial effects of coumestans from Eclipta alba for sustainable control of Eimeria tenella parasitosis in poultry production

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anticoccidial efficacy of a product containing coumestans from Eclipta alba. Experimental conditions were set up as to reproduce the environment conditions for husbandry adopted in commercial broiler farms. Broilers were raised in broiler chicken shed provided with feeders, drinkers, illumination and temperature control systems and floor covering to afford an adequate nourishing environment. Male Cobb broilers (240) were assigned to four experimental groups being each experimental group set apart in rice straw-covered shed isolated with wire mesh. One-day-old broilers were reared in a coccidian-free environment with ad libitum supply of filtered water and freely available standard feed, from the 1st to the 35th day of life. The T1 group received standard feed (negative control); T2 was treated with standard feed supplemented with 66 ppm of salinomycin (positive control); groups T3 and T4 had standard feed supplemented with the ethyl acetate fraction from methanolic extract of E. alba aerial parts, which contains the coumestans WL and DWL (120 and 180 ppm, respectively). The chicken broilers were individually infected with 2 × 104 oocysts of Eimeria tenella when they were 14 days old and were monitored weekly to evaluate zootechnical parameters such as weight gain and food conversion ratio. Counting of coccidial oocyst in chicken feces was assessed from random samples, from the 21st to 28th days of life, which corresponded to 7-14 days after the infection. Five chickens selected at random from each experimental group were subsequently euthanized at 21, 28 or 35 days of life to determine the lesion score in the cecal region and to excise a cecum portion for histopathological evaluation. The group treated with coumestans from E. alba presented an average weight gain and food conversion ratio higher than the negative control group and similar to the mean value of the positive control group. Coumestan-treated groups showed a significant decrease in the oocyst counting since the 21 th day of life and displayed a reduced number of macroscopic lesions. Histopathological evaluations of cecum fragments showed that both treatments induced the migration of defense cells at the site of infection. A severe destruction of the cecal lining was found in the intestinal tract of broilers fed with a coumestans dose of 180 ppm. Overall, our results validate the use of a phytotherapy containing E. alba coumestans at a dose of 120 ppm as a therapeutic or prophylactic agent against avian coccidiosis.     

Anticoccidial effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aloe secundiflora</Emphasis> leaf extract against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eimeria tenella</Emphasis> in broiler chicken

Anticoccidial effects of Aloe secundiflora crude leaf extract was tested in broiler chickens following oral infection with Eimeria tenella. Sixty 22-day-old birds were divided into six groups of ten birds each. Three treatment groups A, B, and C were fed with the extract (100, 250, and 500 mg/day, respectively) mixed in feed for 10 days, and three control groups: group D (drug control) administered 300 mg/l of sulfachloropyrazine sodium soluble powder in drinking water for 5 days, group E (infected/non-medicated positive control), and group F (uninfected/non-medicated negative control). Except for group F, all groups were orally inoculated with 75,000 sporulated oocysts of E. tenella. The effects of the extract on E. tenella infection were evaluated by severity of bloody diarrhea, body weight (BW) gain, oocyst output, and lesion score. No bird in the treated groups died of coccidiosis, and severity of bloody diarrhea was milder than in the positive control group. BW gains in the treated groups were significantly higher than in group E (p < 0.05). The lesion scores of the treated groups were significantly lower than that of group E. Oocyst output in groups A, B, and C were 11.23, 8.24, and 6.82 × 10⁶, respectively. As compared with the negative control group (12.84 × 10⁶), the reductions in oocyst production were 12.54, 35.83, and 46.88%, respectively. Oocyst output significantly reduced with an increase in Aloe dosage. The findings of this study suggest that Aloe secundiflora extract presents an alternative anticoccidial agent for the control of avian coccidiosis.     

Growth of Salmonella typhimurium in the caecum of gnotobiotic chickens with Eimeria tenella

Gnotobiotic chickens infected with Eimeria tenella (5 X 10(4) oocysts per bird) received an oral inoculation of 100 Salmonella typhimurium two, four, six or eight days after coccidial infection at four days old. When S typhimurium was given two or four days after E tenella infection, S typhimurium counts in the caecal contents were similar to the counts in birds infected with S typhimurium alone. When S typhimurium was given six or eight days after E tenella infection, counts of the organism were significantly greater than with S typhimurium infection alone. There were no differences in the number of chickens positive for S typhimurium in the caecal contents, bile, liver and spleen between the two groups.     

传染性法氏囊病免疫保护试验中3种评定指标的比较

100只SPF鸡均分为5组，A、B、c3组免疫后攻毒，接种3批次自制的IBD基因工程重组亚单位油乳剂疫苗；D组不免疫不攻毒，E组不免疫而攻毒。免疫后第22天，感染IBDV强毒株BC-6／85。攻毒后第4天，将所有存活的鸡只以颈脱臼致死，收集法氏囊，以3种方法和指标（法氏囊眼观病变；法氏囊显微病变；法氏囊中IBDV抗原检测）进行分析，以评定免疫保护率。结果显示，以这3种方法和指标评定，A组免疫保护率为90％，B、C组免疫保护率均为95％；试验鸡A3、A14、B7、C16、E1～E20，法氏囊眼观病变明显，法氏囊显微病理损伤评分为3～5分，琼脂免疫扩散试验检测法氏囊中IBDV抗原均为阳性；其他试验鸡，法氏囊眼观无明显异常，法氏囊显微病理损伤评分在3分以下，琼脂免疫扩散试验检测法氏囊中IBDV抗原均为阴性。结果表明，这3种方法和指标在IBD疫苗免疫保护试验评定中具有很好的一致性。     

A gel delivery system for coccidiosis vaccine: uniformity of distribution of oocysts

A patented gel delivery system being used to deliver coccidiosis vaccine to poultry hatchlings is assessed. For effective vaccination, the coccidial oocysts must be uniformly suspended before exposure to birds. The uniformity of distribution within the gel was evaluated by incorporating a culture of chicken gut flora into gel sausages, placing sections of the sausage on culture plates, determining the appearance and distribution of bacterial colonies on culture plates after incubation, and verifying by cell counts. The uniformity of distribution of similarly prepared coccidial oocysts was verified by infecting birds with 40,000 Eimeria tenella oocysts delivered via the gel. Gel-inoculated birds were compared with control birds inoculated PO with 40,000 oocysts suspended in water by using cecal lesion scores. Both the appearance and colony counts of chicken gut flora from the gel were uniform. The standard deviation in the lesion scores for the gel-inoculated group and the water-inoculated groups were 0.51 and 0.69, respectively. The results indicate that a gel delivery system can provide uniform distribution of live organisms and vaccine agents to birds.     

Vaccination of chickens with DNA vaccine expressing Eimeria tenella MZ5-7 against coccidiosis

A chimeric DNA vaccine co-expressing Eimeria tenella MZ5-7 and chicken IL-17 gene was constructed and its efficacy against E. tenella challenge was evaluated. The ORF of MZ5-7 from E. tenella's second generation merozoite and the mature interleukin 17 gene of chicken were cloned into the expression vector of pcDNA4.0 to construct DNA vaccine pcDNA4.0-MZ and pcDNA4.0-MZ-IL17. The expression of aim gene products in vivo was detected by western blotting. The expression of IL-2 and IFN-γ in chicken splenocytes was detected by RT-PCR 7 days post-immunization. The expression levels of the two cytokines in the pcDNA4.0-MZ-IL17 DNA vaccine immunized group were significantly higher than that in the pcDNA4.0-MZ immunized group (p<0.05). Either pcDNA4.0-MZ or pcDNA4.0-MZ-IL17 DNA vaccine could obviously alleviate cecal lesions, body weight loss and increase oocyst decrease ratio. The ACI of pcDNA4.0-MZ-IL17 group was 190, which is higher than that of pcDNA4.0-MZ group and all the three control groups. In short, MZ5-7 was an effective candidate antigen for vaccine and co-expression of cytokine with antigen was an alternative method to enhance the immunity DNA vaccine.