EFFECT OF EGG ADAPTED GAMETOCYTIC VACCINE (LOCAL ISOLATES) ON LESION SCORE IN COCCIDIOSIS IN POULTRY

An egg adapted gametocytes (Local isolates) E. tenella, vaccine(s) were used against coccidiosis in chickens. A total of two hundred day old chicks were utilized in this study. On day fifth of their age, they were divided into four groups, viz Group-I, group-II, Group-III and Group-IV having 50 chicks in each groups. These groups were distributed as; Group-I, Group-II, Group-III and Group-IV and were administered vaccine(s) for immunization orally viz; Vaccine I (gametocytes), to chicks of Group-I, Vaccine II (gametocytes inactivated) to Group-II, Vaccine III (gametocytes sonicated inactivated) to Group-IIII and Group-IV served as control given normal saline. On day 15th post- immunization, chicks were challenged with 60,000–70,000 sporulatedoocysts of mixed species of Eimeria. On day 21st post vaccination, birds were subjected to postmortem and their lesions score were recorded. A maximum of 46 (92%) birds having lesions in intestine and caeca of Group-IV were observed while a minimum of 17 (34%) birds having slight lesions in intestine and caeca were observed in Group-III. There was non-significant difference (P>0.05) in lesions score of Group-I, II and IV. Lesions scores in Group-III were significantly different (P>0.05) from Group-I, II and IV. It is concluded that on the basis of lesions score the egg-adapted vaccine saved the chicks against coccidiosis on challenge.