Inter- and intra-strain variation and PCR detection of the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1) sequences of Australian isolates of Eimeria species from chickens

The objective of this study was to confirm the presence of seven species of Eimeria involved in chicken coccidiosis in Australia by comparing internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1) sequences, ITS-1 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods and to apply phylogenetic analysis to assess evolutionary relationships of Australian isolates. Twenty-two distinct ITS-1 regions of 15 Australian Eimeria isolates were sequenced, and analysed using maximum parsimony, distance and maximum likelihood methods. Poor bootstrap support, resulting from high ITS-1 sequence heterogeneity between all species groups, resulted in polychotomy of the Eimeria species in all three trees generated by these analyses. Percentage identity analyses revealed two distant ITS-1 lineages in both E. mitis and E. maxima at the same levels that separate the two species E. tenella and E. necatrix. One E. maxima lineage consisted of Australian isolates, the other American isolates, with one European sequence (originating from the same isolate) in each lineage. One Australian E. praecox sequence was only distantly related (33% variation) to three E. praecox sequences from Australian and European isolates. Short and long ITS-1 variants were isolated from both E. tenella (cloned line) and E. necatrix isolates with deletions (106 and 73 bp, respectively) in the short variants within the 3' region of the ITS-1 sequence. ITS-1 sequences of strains of both E. brunetti and E. acervulina species varied the least. Apart from E. maxima, all of the ITS-1 sequences of the six remaining individual species clustered to the exclusion of other species in all phylogenetic trees. Published ITS-1 tests for E. necatrix, E. acervulina, E. brunetti and E. tenella, combined with three new tests for E. mitis, E. praecox and Australian E. maxima amplified all respective Australian isolates specifically in a nested format using conserved ITS-1 PCR products as template to improve the sensitivity. All PCR tests were confirmed against a collection of 24 Australian chicken Eimeria isolates and contaminating species were detected in some instances. In conclusion, once the genetic variation between species and strains is determined, the ITS-1 is a good target for the development of species-specific assays, but the ITS-1 sequences alone do not seem suitable for the confirmation of phylogenetic inferences for these species. This study reports the first attempt at the analysis of the phylogeny and sequence comparison of the Eimeria species involved in chicken coccidiosis in Australia.     

Molecular identification of Eimeria species infecting market-age meat chickens in commercial flocks in Ontario

A previously described multiplex PCR was evaluated for the identification and prevalence of Eimeria species in market-age commercial chicken flocks in Ontario. The multiplex PCR based on species-specific RAPD-SCAR markers was able to distinguish six available laboratory strains of Eimeria species (E. tenella, E. maxima, E. necatrix, E. mitis, E. acervulina, and E. brunetti) and E. tenella, E. maxima and E. acervulina in unknown field samples, including multiple infections in single reactions. No backyard (0/77) and 20/360 market-age commercial chickens were oocyst-positive using standard fecal flotation methods. PCR identified E. tenella alone (9/360, 2.5%), E. maxima alone (5/360, 1.38%), E. maxima plus E. tenella (5/360, 1.38%) and E. acervulina alone (1/360, 0.27%) in market-age commercial broilers. This is probably the first time the multiplex PCR has been evaluated in poultry establishments in Canada and illustrates the value of the tool in coccidiosis epidemiology on commercial farms.     

Eimeria brunetti and Eimeria necatrix in chickens of Argentina and confirmation of seven species of Eimeria

Ten poultry farms (broiler breeder pullets, layer pullets, and broilers) in the provinces of Entre Rios and Buenos Aires in Argentina were examined for presence of Eimeria spp. Litter samples obtained from flocks 7-11 wk old were taken to the laboratory for oocyst counting and sporulation, then concentrated for inoculation into coccidia-free chickens. Species were identified by prepatent period, oocyst size, location and appearance of lesions in the intestine, microscopic examination of mucosal smears, and histology (to confirm Eimeria brunetti). On this basis, Eimeria praecox was found in two samples, Eimeria mitis in two, Eimeria acervulina in nine, Eimeria maxima in seven, Eimeria necatrix in three, Eimeria tenella in seven, and E. brunetti in four. These results confirm the presence of all seven recognized species of Eimeria in chickens in the Republic of Argentina.     

33个小型鸡场球虫流行病学调查

对天津、河北、山东等地33个小型养鸡场做了球虫病原学流行调查。根据卵囊形态，最短潜在期．裂殖体部位和大小，病变等具有鉴别意义的特征做综合鉴定。结果显示，33个鸡场都有球虫的感染。共鉴定出7个种．其中有28个鸡场有堆形艾美耳球虫(E．acervulina)，占84．84％．26个场有柔嫩艾美耳球虫(E．tenella)．占78．78％．25个场有巨型艾美耳球虫(E．maxima)，占75．8％，早熟艾美耳球虫(E．praecox)，和缓艾美耳球虫(E．mitis)，布氏艾美耳球虫(E．brunetti)和毒害艾美耳球虫(E．necatrix)各1个场有．各占3％。只有一个鸡场单独感染一种球虫．其余都是混合感染2种或2种以上球虫，其中有2个鸡场混合感染4种球虫。     

福建省鸡球虫病感染情况的调查

为掌握福建省鸡球虫病的发病状况及影响因素,2009年12月至2010年11月,采用粪便漂浮法和卵囊培养法对本省的球虫病情况进行调查,并在实验室对送检的1 500份粪便样品进行了分析.结果发现当地鸡体内有6种球虫,分别是柔嫩艾美耳球虫(Eimeria tenlla)、巨型艾美耳球虫(E.maxima)、堆形艾美耳球虫(E...     

Relative value of oocyst counts in evaluating anticoccidial activity.

Birds medicated with roxarsone and in another experiment with zoalene in the feed produced higher oocysts counts than unmedicated control birds receiving the same oocyst dose of Eimeria tenella or a mixture of six species (E. tenella, E. necatrix, E. brunetti, E. maxima, E. acervulina, and E. mitvati). These experiments confirm the conclusion that oocyst counts constitute an unsatisfactory and unreliable parameter for judging effectiveness of an anticoccidial even though such increases are a relatively rare occurrence in anticoccidial evaluation experiments.     

Application of polymerase chain reaction based on ITS1 rDNA to speciate Eimeria

A method was developed to recover Eimeria spp. oocysts directly from poultry litter and determine which species of Eimeria were present using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the ITS1 rDNA sequence. The species composition of Eimeria oocysts was also compared before and after propagation in susceptible chickens to determine if the relative proportion of each species changed after expansion. In samples from two broiler operations, ITS1-PCR was able to detect Eimeria spp. oocysts recovered from litter, with Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria maxima, and Eimeria praecox being the predominant species present therein. Although Eimeria tenella was found in one sample, the other species--Eimeria brunetti, Eimeria necatrix, and Eimeria mitis-were not detected. The species composition as determined by ITS1-PCR did not appear to appreciably alter after expansion in susceptible chickens. The described method represents a rapid means for determining the major Eimeria species in a poultry operation and may be helpful in choosing a particular live oocyst vaccine formulation to protect chickens against coccidiosis.     

Anticoccidial evaluation of halofuginone, lasalocid, maduramicin, monensin and salinomycin

The activities of five anticoccidials were compared against Eimeria species in/of chickens, in controlled in vivo and in vitro laboratory studies. Two more recent and potent market entries (maduramicin and halofuginone) were compared with three older polyether antibiotic anticoccidials (monensin, lasalocid and salinomycin). Halofuginone, lasalocid, maduramicin, monensin and salinomycin were evaluated at 3, 125, 5, 120 and 66 ppm, respectively, of active drug in the diets. At these levels, all five drugs demonstrated significant activity against Eimeria tenella, E. maxima, E. necatrix, E. brunetti and E. acervulina (in vivo). Monensin was least effective against E. tenella, and one of the lesser efficacious drugs against E. necatrix, maduramicin, was least effective against E. maxima. In studies of single Eimeria species infections, comparable weight gains were noted for the drugs. In the mixed Eimeria species infections, however, birds treated with maduramicin had significantly higher weight gains than did birds medicated with monensin. Unlike in vivo potencies, titration in vitro indicated that monensin was most potent (active at 10(-6) mcg ml-1), and maduramicin and lasalocid least potent (inactive at less than or equal to 10(-3) mcg ml-1).     

安徽省部分地区鸡球虫种类及感染情况调查

目的了解安徽省五个县（区）鸡球虫种类及感染情况。方法采用群体采样法分别从个调查点采集新鲜鸡粪，检查粪样。阳性粪样采用饱和盐水漂浮和离心沉淀法进行卵囊分离。显微镜下观察卵囊进行虫种鉴定，并统计各调查点的鸡球虫感染率和感染强度等。结果检查172份鸡的新鲜粪样，得出鸡球虫感染率为100％；共检出7种球虫，经鉴定均隶属于艾美耳属，分别为毒害艾关耳球虫（Eimeria necatrix），堆型艾关耳球虫（E．acervulina），巨型艾关耳球虫（E．maxima），柔嫩艾美耳球虫（E．tenella），和缓艾美耳球虫（E．mitis），哈氏艾美耳球虫（E．hagani）和早熟艾美耳球虫（E．praecox）。结论鸡球虫在安徽省的这5个县（区）普遍存在，且有的调查点感染强度很高。     

鸡艾美耳球虫18SrDNA序列与系统进化分析

为了确定鸡艾美耳球虫（Eimeria）不同种以及来自不同地区同种不同株之间的亲缘关系,研究其分类地位,对实验室保藏的柔嫩艾美耳球虫（Etenella）、毒害艾美耳球虫（Eneeatrix）、巨型艾美耳球虫（Emaxima）、堆形艾美耳球虫（Eaaervulina）等4种15株鸡球虫孢子化卵囊的18SrDNA基因进行克隆、测序,并与从GenBank下载的鸡球虫18SrDNA序列一起,使用软件DNAstar 5．0 MegAlign进行系统发育分析。结果显示,4种艾美耳球虫种间同源性在94．6％～99．4％之间,7株柔嫩艾美耳球虫的株间同源性在99．0％-99．9％之间,5株巨型艾美耳球虫的株间同源性在96．9％～99．8％之间。用该4种鸡球虫的18SrDNA序列与GenBank下载的另外4种鸡球虫18SrDNA序列构建系统发育树,显示这8种鸡艾美耳球虫形成2个分支,即堆形艾美耳球虫（EASH）、巨型艾美耳球虫（EMSH）、变位艾美耳球虫（Emivati）、和缓艾美耳球虫（Emitis）、布氏艾美耳球虫（Ebrunetti）、早熟艾美耳球虫（Epraecox）构成1个分支,柔嫩艾美耳球虫（ENSH）、毒害艾美耳球虫（ETAS）构成另1分支。巨型艾美耳球虫、柔嫩艾美耳球虫各株的系统发育树均根据地域关系产生2个分支。柔嫩艾美耳球虫、毒害艾美耳球虫的亲缘关系较近,不同地理区域的同种不同株的亲缘关系相对较远,种间和种内的鉴定结果与普通生物学结果一致。本研究提示18SrDNA基因可用于鸡球虫不同种／株的分类鉴定,为艾美耳球虫分子遗传学鉴定提供了理论基础。     

Anticoccidial efficacy of diclazuril against recent field isolates of Eimeria from commercial poultry farms

The anticoccidial efficacy of diclazuril, a novel anticoccidial agent, was titrated in laboratory experiments using recent field isolates of Eimeria. Fifty tests were conducted with six individual species isolates, and seven tests were done with a mixture of the six species. Results were based on intestinal lesion scores at necropsy, droppings scores, and weight gain. Diclazuril at 0.5 ppm was almost completely effective against E. tenella, E. acervulina, and E. mitis. Prevention of E. brunetti was better at 1.0 ppm than at 0.5 ppm. In birds infected with E. mitis. Prevention of E. brunetti was better at 1.0 ppm than at 0.5 ppm. In birds infected with E. maxima, diclazuril at 0.5-1.5 ppm significantly reduced lesion scores and droppings scores and improved weight gain, although lesions were higher than with other species. Oocyst shedding by E. maxima was almost completely prevented by 0.5-1.5 ppm. Lesion scores and droppings scores caused by E. necatrix or mixed infections were greatly reduced by 0.5 ppm of diclazuril, but 1.0 ppm was necessary to obtain full protection of weight gain. Results suggest that 1.0 ppm of diclazuril best prevents coccidiosis caused by six species of coccidia in chickens.     

Quantitative real-time PCR assays for detection and quantification of all seven Eimeria species that infect the chicken

The development and validation of real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays specific to all seven Eimeria species that cause coccidiosis in the chicken is described. The presented work utilizes previously published assays for Eimeria maxima, E. necatrix and E. tenella and adds assays for E. acervulina, E. brunetti, E. mitis and E. praecox. These assays target unique single copy sequences derived from sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers. All seven qPCR markers were sequenced from multiple strains and confirmed to be non-polymorphic and identical to the original SCAR sequence. Sequences conserved within each species were chosen with the aim of developing genuinely universal markers, providing global coverage. An exact match for the primers and TaqMan(?) probe during PCR cycling enables precise relative quantification of multiple species in a mixture regardless of the strains present. All markers utilized in these qPCR assays are absolutely species-specific and support reproducible quantification across a wide linear range, unaffected by the presence of non-target species or other contaminating DNA. The sensitivity of these assays indicates that DNA equivalent to a single sporulated oocyst can be consistently detected. These assays will be a valuable tool from both industry and research perspectives. Comparison of our panel of qPCR assays with results derived by microscopy, the traditional Gold Standard, using poultry farm field samples support their efficacy.     

秦皇岛地区鸡球虫抗药性研究

应用艾维茵肉仔鸡，以最适抗球虫活性百分率（POAA）、病变记分减少率（RLS）和相对卵囊产量（ROP）为判定指标，检测了采自河北省秦皇岛地区的6种艾美耳球虫对8种常用抗球虫药物的敏感性。结果表明：6种混合艾美耳球虫对马杜霉素和盐霉素具有轻度抗药性；对拉沙洛菌素和氨丙淋具有中度抗药性；对球痢灵、克球多和常山酮具有重度抗药性；对地克珠利无抗药性。     

Tracing the emergence of drug-resistance in coccidia (Eimeria spp.) of commercial broiler flocks medicated with decoquinate for the first time in the United Kingdom

Decoquinate is a quinolone coccidiostat introduced during 1967 as an in-feed prophylactic for broiler chickens. Despite early drug-resistance problems and its age, the drug is still used commercially worldwide. Decoquinate here serves as a valuable model in a field study that addresses the dynamics and economic impact of the development of coccidial resistance to potent synthetic anticoccidial drugs. The results of this unique, hitherto unpublished, study on the initial emergence of resistance of avian coccidia (Eimeria spp.) to a new drug in the field may be of strategic value in the continued use of decoquinate or the introduction of new drugs. The commercial performance of the first 3-5 crops of broilers to be medicated with decoquinate on each of six farms was monitored during 14 months in 1968-1969, supplemented by assessments of the species, population dynamics and decoquinate-resistance of coccidia isolated from each farm. During the rearing of each flock in a single shed on each farm, oocysts were counted in fresh faecal samples collected on three occasions, and the species were identified by their morphology if possible, supported if necessary by the biological characteristics of infections in chickens. E. acervulina was the most common species, followed by E. mitis, E. maxima, E. tenella and E. praecox. E. brunetti occurred rarely, and E. necatrix was not found. Decoquinate-resistance was evident in several species during the rearing of the first decoquinate-medicated crop on each farm, although clinical coccidiosis did not occur. It was concluded that inherently resistant mutants of E. acervulina, E. brunetti, E. maxima, E. tenella, and probably also E. mitis and E. praecox, were selected from field populations by 6 weeks during their first exposure to decoquinate. During up to four more subsequent crops, cycling of resistant parasites stimulated host immunity, which had no obvious adverse impact on commercial performance. There was no apparent seasonal effect. A hypothesis is proposed to explain the sudden and rapid emergence of quinolone-resistance in the coccidia, and why bird health was not thereby compromised in these circumstances.     

Evaluation of the efficacy of maduramacin ammonium in combination with roxarsone and avoparcin in caged broiler chickens

1. The anticoccidial activity of maduramicin ammonium (5 mg/kg food) administered alone or with roxarsone (50 mg/kg food) and/or avoparcin (10 mg/kg food) was evaluated in battery-reared broilers artificially challenged with recent field culture mixtures containing Eimeria acervulina, E. maxima and E. tenella or E. mivati, E. necatrix and E. brunetti. 2. Maduramicin ammonium exhibited a high degree of anticoccidial activity and the addition of roxarsone and/or avoparcin in food at recommended concentrations did not adversely affect the activity.     

Study on Coccidiosis in Kombolcha Poultry Farm,Ethiopia

A study on the occurrence of coccidiosis and distribution of Eimeria species in dead chickens 1-60 days of age, at Kombolcha Poultry Multiplication and Research Center (KPMRC), Ethiopia was conducted from November 2002 to April 2003. Out of the 965 dead birds, 370 (38.34%) were found to have clinical coccidiosis. The Eimeria species identified in this study were Eimeria brunetti, E. tenella, E. acervulina and E. necatrix with prevalence rates of 45.3%, 40.8%, 9.7%, and 4.1%, respectively. In the current study, E. brunetti was reported for the first time in Ethiopia. It was noted that clinical coccidioisis was more prevalent in those between 5 and 6 weeks of age. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in clinical coccidiosis prevalence among the different age groups studied. Various managerial problems that are associated with this high prevalence of clinical coccidiosis are identified and appropriate control strategies are recommended.     

山东省潍坊地区肉鸡球虫的抗药性调查

应用石歧杂肉仔鸡,检测了采自我国山东潍坊的５种艾美耳球虫对６种常用抗球虫药的敏感性。根据最适抗球虫活性百分率、相对卵囊产量和病变记分减少率３项指标综合判定,山东潍坊地区的柔嫩艾美耳球虫,堆型艾美耳球虫,巨型艾美耳球虫、丰氏菌美耳球虫和缓艾美耳球虫的５个混合种对盐霉素Ｓａｌｉｎｏｍｙｃｉｎ、拉水 攻素Ｌａｓａｌｏｃｉｄ、莫能霉素Ｍｏｎｅｎｓｉｎ、马杜拉霉素Ｍａｄｕｒａｍｉｃｉｎ和常山酮Ｈａｌｏｆｕｇ     

Anticoccidial activity of 8-aminoquinolines, pamaquine, primaquine and several molecular complexes and salts of pamaquine, against Eimeria tenella, E. necatrix, E. acervulina, E. maxima, and E. brunetti in battery experiments.

Pamaquine and primaquine, the well known antimalarial 8-aminoquinolines, have not been reported for their anticoccidial activity. A series of battery experiments was conducted to investigate their activity against a laboratory strain of Eimeria tenella, E. necatrix, E. acervulina, E. maxima, or E. brunetti and revealed that both drugs were effective against E. tenella and E. necatrix, but not against the other three species. Pamaquine suppressed the symptoms of E. tenella induced coccidiosis at concentrations above 125 ppm in feed and primaquine controlled the clinical signs as well at levels above 31.2 ppm. The activity against E. necatrix was observed with pamaquine at 250 ppm and with primaquine at levels above 125 ppm. Pamaquine showed a tendency apparently to reduce body weight gain at 125-500 ppm, whereas primaquine showed the same tendency at 500 ppm. In a concomitantly conducted experiment, this adverse effect of pamaquine was averted in its molecular complexes with benzophenone, nitropyrazole, dinitrobenzoic acids and quinoline, and in its salts of sulfate or zinc chloride, and yet these compounds retained the same anticoccidial activity as of pamaquine. This suggests that these compounds had the broadened safety margin. Judging from their susceptibility to these compounds. E. tenella and E. necatrix will have similar metabolic functions to those of blood cell parasitizing protozoa like plasmodia and prioplasma, which are easily suppressed by this class of compound.     

Improved polymerase chain reaction technique for determining the species composition of Eimeria in poultry litter

An improved polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method for determining the species composition of Eimeria in poultry litter was developed by incorporating species-specific internal standards in the assay. Internal standard molecules were prepared by fusing seven different Eimeria species-specific intervening transcribed sequence 1 (ITS1) rDNA primer pairs to a non-Eimeria DNA molecule and by cloning the hybrid DNA molecules into a plasmid. The internal DNA standards were then used in Eimeria-specific ITS 1 PCR, and they were found to be capable of detecting E. acervulina, E. maxima, E. praecox, and E. tenella oocysts isolated directly from poultry litter.     

五种鸡球虫卵囊的同工酶研究

采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶管状电泳，研究柔嫩艾美耳球虫、毒害艾美耳球虫、巨型艾美耳球虫、变位艾美耳球虫和堆型艾美耳球虫卵囊的乳酸脱氢酶、葡萄糖磷酸异构酶、葡萄糖－６－磷酸脱氢酶、碱性磷酸酶、６－磷酸葡萄糖酸脱氢酶的同工酶。结果显示５种球虫卵囊的５种同工酶酶谱能反映出虫种差异。作者认为同工酶技术有助于球虫种的分类。