Identification of Cross-Resistance and Multiple Resistance in Eimeria tenella Field Isolates to Commonly Used Anticoccidials in Pakistan

A battery trial was conducted to evaluate the drug sensitivity in Eimeria tenella field isolates against the commonly used anticoccidials salinomycin (60 ppm), maduramicin (5 ppm), and clopidol (125 ppm) in broiler chicks. These anticoccidials were mixed in feed at d 12 of age, and inoculation was given on d 14 of age. Drug sensitivity was determined by using the global index, which is composed of percentage weight gain, FCR, lesion score, oocyst index, and mortality percentage. In the present study, all the E. tenella isolates showed partial resistance against salinomycin, whereas varying degrees of sensitivity were observed against maduramicin and clopidol.     

5株柔嫩艾美耳球虫对4种抗球虫药的抗药性

选择260只19日龄雏鸡，随机分成26组，每组10只，研究柔嫩艾美耳球虫(E．tenella)南京株、凤阳株、扬州株、宣城株和蒙城株对地克珠利(Diclazuril)、马杜霉素(Maduramicin)、氯羟吡啶(C1opido1)、氯苯胍(Robenidine)的抗药性。每株球虫均设4个感染用药组、1个感染不用药组，另外设1个不感染不用药组。以POAA、RLS、ROP、ACI作为指标，判定5株球虫对4种药物的抗药性。结果表明凤阳株、扬州株和蒙城株分别仅对马杜霉素、氯苯胍、地克珠利敏感，南京株和宣城株对该4种药物均已产生不同程度的抗药性。提示目前在凤阳、扬州和蒙城地区可分别合理地使用马杜霉素、氯苯胍和地克珠利，对其它药物须减少或暂停使用。     

Isolation and selection of ionophore-tolerant Eimeria precocious lines: E. tenella, E. maxima and E. acervulina

Eimeria parasites were isolated from Nanhai Guangdong province (southern China) and studied in chickens in wire cages to evaluate their drug resistance against commonly used ionophores: monensin (100 mg/kg of feed), lasolacid (90 mg/kg), salinomycin (60 mg/kg), maduramicin (5 mg/kg) and semduramicin (25 mg/kg). Chinese Yellow Broiler Chickens were infected with 40,000 crude sporulated Eimeria oocysts at 15 days of age and prophylactic medication commenced a day prior to infection. Drug resistance was assessed for each ionophore drug by calculating the anticoccidial index (ACI) and percentage optimum anticoccidial activity (POAA) based on relative weight gain, rate of oocyst production and lesion values. Results revealed that Nanhai Eimeria oocysts comprising of E. tenella, E. maxima and E. acervulina, were resistant to monensin, sensitive to both salinomycin and lasolacid and partially sensitive to maduramicin and semduramicin. By selection for early development of oocysts during passage through chickens, the prepatent time of E. tenella, E. maxima and E. acervulina were reduced by 49, 36 and 22 h, respectively. The precocious lines are less pathogenic than the parent strains from which they were selected and conferred a satisfactory protection for chickens against coccidiosis. These ionophore-tolerant precocious lines could have wider applications in the development of anticoccidial vaccines for sustainable control of coccidiosis.     

Study of resistance against some ionophores in Eimeria tenella field isolates.

Three Eimeria tenella field isolates from Gurgaon district of Haryana (north India) were studied in a battery test for evaluating drug resistance against two currently used ionophores; maduramicin (5ppm) and salinomycin (60ppm). Broiler birds (Ross strain) were infected with 10(5) sporulated oocysts each at the age of 2 weeks and prophylactic medication commenced 2 days prior to infection. Drug resistance was assessed by calculating the global index for individual ionophore compounds based on weight gain, feed conversion ratio, oocyst index, lesion score and mortality. Present studies revealed no resistance of the ionophores in any of the field isolates. Both the drugs showed varying degree of efficacy, e.g. maduramicin exhibited limited efficacy against all the three field isolates, whereas salinomycin showed limited efficacy against Gurgaon isolate (GrI)-I, good efficacy against GrI-II and partial resistance against GrI-III.     

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.     

Limited heterogeneity between strains of Eimeria tenella isolated from Britain and Bangladesh

Single-oocyst-derived field strains of Eimeria tenella isolated from Rugby in the United Kingdom (E tenella R) and from Mymensingh and Dhaka in Bangladesh (E tenella M and D, respectively) and a laboratory strain (E tenella, Houghton, H) were compared by isoenzyme electrophoresis, reactivity with antisporozoite monoclonal antibodies and, for some pairs of strains, cross-protection in vivo. The three field strains conformed to one zymodeme with respect to six isoenzymes. For glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI) all field strains were characterised by GPI-9. A panel of six different monoclonal antibodies raised against sporozoites of E tenella H did not discriminate between strains by titration in an immunofluorescence assay against air-dried, acetone fixed sporozoites. In cross-protection experiments involving immunisation and challenge of young chickens, two immunisation schedules were used which, after homologous challenge, provided complete immunity either by the criterion of oocyst output, or by the criterion of weight gain (and more than 94 per cent protection by the criterion of oocyst output). While strain heterogeneity was minimal in the former situation, there was poor cross protection between some strains in the latter case. Under those conditions, heterologous challenge with E tenella M resulted in dysentery and in significantly (P less than 0.05) increased oocyst output and decreased weight gain. The results suggested that E tenella M was immunologically superior to E tenella R and H strains. The results show that a limited degree of immunogenic variability exists between these strains of E tenella and that, unless homologous strain immunity is complete by the criterion of oocyst output, challenge with heterologous strains may result in depressed weight gain.     

柔嫩艾美球虫常州株对5种抗球虫药的抗药性分析

将柔嫩艾美耳球虫(E.tenella)常州分离株感染14日龄苏禽黄羽肉鸡,设立5个用药组、1个感染不用药对照组和1个不感染不用药对照组,以相对卵囊产量、病变记分减少率、最适抗球虫百分数和抗球虫指数为指标对该虫株对球虫宁、地克珠利、马杜霉素、磺胺氯吡嗪、癸氧喹酯5种常用抗球虫药的抗药性进行了综合评定,分析了该地区球虫的抗药性及用药对策。结果表明,该虫株对癸氧喹酯敏感,对球虫宁、地克珠利、马杜霉素、磺胺氯吡嗪具有完全抗药性,提示目前常州地区球虫抗药性非常严重,癸氧喹酯抗球虫疗效最好,其他药物应合理使用、应慎用、减少或暂停使用。     

Efficacy of maduramicin ammonium against coccidiosis in turkeys under laboratory and floor-pen conditions

Experimental infections with field isolates of Eimeria meleagrimitis, E. adenoeides, E. gallopavonis, and E. dispersa in turkey poults were used to test the efficacy of maduramicin ammonium at 2.5-10 ppm in laboratory experiments. Infection with single or mixed species of coccidia reduced the weight gain of unmedicated infected controls and caused 18.1-65% mortality in two experiments. Maduramicin ammonium given at 5-7 ppm prevented mortality, significantly reduced droppings scores and oocyst passage, and improved weight gain to near that of the unmedicated uninfected controls. Maduramicin ammonium was tested at 4-7 ppm in a floor-pen trial lasting 10 weeks. Mortality from coccidiosis averaged 11.9% in unmedicated controls, compared with 0.6% with 4 ppm of maduramicin or no mortality with 5-7 ppm. Average weight gain and feed conversion at 10 weeks were significantly improved over unmedicated infected controls when maduramicin ammonium was given at 5-7 ppm. These results suggest that maduramicin ammonium is highly efficacious against field isolates of Eimeria in turkeys, especially within the range of 5-7 ppm in the feed.     

秦皇岛株和唐山株柔嫩艾美耳球虫对5种抗球虫药的抗药性检测

目的为检测柔嫩艾美耳球虫秦皇岛株和唐山株株对氯羟吡啶、氨丙啉、马杜霉素、地克珠利和尼卡巴嗪等5种抗球虫药的抗药性。方法选择280只14日龄雏鸡,随机分成14组,其中每株球虫均设5个感染用药组,1个感染不用药组,1个不感染不用药组,每组20只,以POAA、RLS、ROP、ACI作为指标。结果秦皇岛株对所选的5种抗球虫药物均产生不同程度的抗药性,而唐山株对氯羟吡啶、马杜霉素和地克珠利有不同程度的抗药性,对氨丙啉和尼卡巴嗪无抗药性。其中在这5种抗球虫药物中,秦皇岛株和唐山株柔嫩艾美耳球虫对地克珠利均呈现完全抗药性。结论目前地克珠利在秦皇岛和唐山两地区须减少或暂停使用。     

Studies on the stage of action of lasalocid against Eimeria tenella and Eimeria acervulina in the chicken

Broiler chickens in battery pens were either fed a diet containing 100 ppm lasalocid or no drug for 24 h prior to inoculation with sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella or Eimeria acervulina. Different groups of birds remained on medicated feed for 24, 48, 72, 96, 120 or 144 h after inoculation. Conversely, other groups started on an unmedicated diet, were given medicated feed at different times after oocyst inoculation. Starting lasalocid medication 24 h (E. tenella) or 48 h (E. acervulina) after inoculation reduced the lesions and improved the weight gain. There was no significant difference in performance of birds after withdrawal of the drug at 48 h (E. tenella) or 72 h (E. acervulina) and thereafter. Starting lasalocid medication at 96 or 120 h did not suppress but rather reduced oocyst production.     

堆型艾美耳球虫早熟株对常用抗球虫药的敏感性测定

The study was aimed to explore the sensitivity of Eimeria acervulina （E.acervulina） precocious strain to some common anticoccidials (diclazuril, toltrazuril, sulfamonomethoxine, dinitolmide, decoquinate, nicarbazin, maduramicin, salinomycin and oxytetracycline). The sensitivity of E.acervulina precocious strain to 9 kinds anticoccidials was assessed by using 4 indices: anticoccidial activity percentage (POAA), reduction of lesion scores (RLS), relative oocyst production (ROP) and anticoccidial index (ACI). The results of these sensitivity trials indicated that the four indices POAA, RLS, ROP and ACI of groups toltrazuril, sulfamonomethoxine, dinitolmide, decoquinate, nicarbazin, salinomycin and oxytetracycline were all negative; the ROP index of diclazuril group was positive, the other three indices were negative. The ROP and ACI indices of maduramicin group were positive, the other two indices were negative. The results showed that the Eimeria acervulina precocious strain was sensitive to diclazuril, toltrazuril, sulfamonomethoxine, dinitolmide, decoquinate, nicarbazin, salinomycin and oxytetracycline, it was partly sensitive to maduramicin.     

鸡胚接种柔嫩艾美耳球虫和堆形艾美耳球虫活卵囊的免疫保护试验

给18日龄鸡胚接种一定剂量的柔嫩艾美耳球虫(Eim eria tenella)和/或堆形艾美耳球虫(E.acervulina)孢子化卵囊,出雏后在无球虫环境中笼养,1~10日龄每天收集各组粪便样本,计数克粪便卵囊数(OPG),并于14日龄时以大剂量同源孢子化卵囊攻虫,以相对增重率(RWG)、饲料转化率(FCR)、相对卵囊产量(ROP)评价免疫保护效果。结果显示,以E.tenella或E.acervulina卵囊免疫18日龄鸡胚,其卵囊排出的潜隐期及达到峰值的时间与1日龄雏鸡接种组相一致,有相似的排卵囊曲线,提示其诱导免疫的建立是在出雏后开始建立的。攻虫后各免疫组的RWG由攻虫对照组的31.9%~51.7%提高到了76.5%~83.6%,RCR由攻虫对照组的4.11~4.89改善为2.72~2.96,ROP降至4.7%~23.5%。结果表明以一定剂量E.tenella和E.acervulina卵囊单独或混合经羊膜腔免疫18日龄鸡胚都可以建立起针对出雏后14日龄同源攻虫的良好免疫保护力。比较混合免疫E.tenella和E.acervulina卵囊组与单一接种E.tenella或E.acervulina卵囊组的免疫效果发现,混合免疫组的各项指标均稍优于后者。     

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.     

柔嫩艾美耳球虫癸氧喹酯耐药株的诱导研究

采用药物浓度递增法,在实验室条件下进行柔嫩艾美耳球虫耐药虫株的诱导。以5.4 mg/kg癸氧喹酯为起始诱导浓度连续传代,以病变记分减少率(RLS)、最适抗球虫指数(POAA)和抗球虫指数(ACI)3项指标综合判定耐药性,经9次传代,成功地诱导出对54 mg/kg癸氧喹酯具有完全抵抗力的耐药虫株,为进一步的球虫耐药的分子机理研究提供材料。     

The extraintestinal stages of Eimeria tenella and E. maxima in the chicken

Donor chickens given feed medicated with one or two levels of decoquinate or given non-medicated feed were infected with oocysts of Eimeria tenella or E. maxima per os. Twelve hours after inoculation with oocysts liver, mid-intestine or ceca homogenates were fed to previously uninfected recipient chickens. The results showed that continuous medication with decoquinate was effective in preventing the transfer of sporozoites from the intestine to the liver. Oocysts were detected in the feces of all recipients of tissue from non-medicated donors, showing that some sporozoites of E. maxima and E. tenella are normally transferred to liver. Young broiler chickens were immunized by oral inoculation of E. maxima oocysts. The immune status of similar chickens inoculated with sporozoites of the same species directly into the liver or spleen were assessed. During the experimental period half of the chicks were provided with non-medicated food and the remainder were given feed supplemented with decoquinate; decoquinate was effective in arresting the development of the sporozoites. Two weeks after initial infection the birds were challenged with oocysts of E. maxima per os. Injection of sporozoites into the spleen did not protect against challenge. Birds inoculated with sporozoites into the liver were unable to develop a significant level of immunity. When the drug pressure was removed from these birds, parasitism of the intestine occurred and immunity developed.     

2株柔嫩艾美耳球虫对5种抗球虫药的抗药性

选择130只21日龄雏鸡，研究了柔嫩艾美耳球虫（E.tenella)南京株和凤阳株对地克珠利（Diclazuril)、马杜霉毒（Maduramicin)、氯羟吡啶（Clopidol)、氯苯胍（Robenidine)和氨丙啉（Amprolium)的抗药性。试验鸡随机分成13组，其中每株球虫均设5个感染用药组，1个感染不用药组，另设1个不感染不用药组，每组10只鸡。以POAA，RLS，ROP，ACI作为指标。结果表明，2株柔嫩艾美耳球虫均对氨丙啉轻度抗药，对地克珠利敏感或轻度抗药，对氯羟吡啶中度抗药。对马杜霉和氯苯胍中度抗药或安全抗药。提示：目前在凤阳地区可合理地使用地克珠利和氨丙啉，对氯羟哟啶应慎用，对马杜霉素和氯苯胍须减少或暂停使用。     

巨型艾美耳球虫和柔嫩艾美耳球虫早熟株对8种抗球虫药的敏感试验

为检测巨型艾美耳球虫和柔嫩艾美耳球虫早熟株对常用抗球虫药的敏感性,选用地克珠利、氯苯胍、二硝托胺、癸氧喹酯、尼卡巴嗪、马杜米星、盐霉素和拉沙洛西等8种抗球虫药进行鸡体试验,通过抗球虫活性百分比（percent of optimum anticoccidial aetivity,POAA）、病变记分减少率（reduction of lesion scores,RLS）、相对卵囊产量（relative oocyst production,ROP）和抗球虫指数（anticoccidial index,ACI）4项指标进行综合评价。结果表明,巨型艾美耳球虫早熟株对8种药物敏感;柔嫩艾美耳球虫早熟株对盐霉素轻度敏感,对地克珠利、氯苯胍、二硝托胺、癸氧喹酯、尼卡巴嗪、马杜米星和拉沙洛西敏感。本研究结果可为对球虫早熟株疫苗的开发与应用提供实验依据。     

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for coccidiosis in chickens: correlation of antibody levels with prior exposure to coccidia in the laboratory and in the field

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed for detecting antibody to coccidia to facilitate the survey of laboratory and field infections. Serum antibody levels in chickens were measured against soluble Eimeria tenella oocyst antigen. Sera from breeders aged 10, 23, 37, and 43 weeks were positive with uniformly high antibody titers. Broiler chick sera showed high maternal antibody titer at hatch, decreasing to an almost negligible response at 3 weeks of age. Two-week-old broiler chicks had variable responses to a single infection of E. tenella: titers were elevated at 8 to 10 days postinfection and generally increased through day 24. Weekly reinfection of 2-week-old broiler chickens produced an antibody titer in proportion to the number of oocysts per dose and stimulated protection against challenge with 2 x 10(5) E. tenella. Inbred birds raised in a pathogen-free environment for 6 weeks had no detectable antibody titers.     

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).     

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.