Coccidiosis vaccines

Abstract

Described are coccidia strains and microbiological cultures comprising such strains. The coccidia strains are selected for tolerance to one group of coccidiostatic drugs, sensitivity to a second group of coccidiostatic drugs, and decreased proliferative capacity. Also described are compositions and vaccines based on such coccidia strain.

1 . An  Eimeria  strain characterized in: 
 being tolerant to a member of a first group of coccidiostatic drugs,    being sensitive to a member of a second group of coccidiostatic drugs, and    having a decreased proliferative capacity.    
     
     
         2 . The  Eimeria  strain of  claim 1 , wherein the first group of coccidiostatic drugs belongs to the group of ionophoric drugs.  
     
     
         3 . The  Eimeria  strain of  claim 1 , wherein the member of the first group of coccidiostatic drugs is monensin or salinomycin.  
     
     
         4 . The  Eimeria  strain of  claim 3 , wherein the second group of coccidiostatic drugs belongs to the group of DNA-synthesis inhibitors.  
     
     
         5 . The  Eimeria  strain of  claim 4 , wherein the member of the second group of coccidiostatic drugs is toltrazuril or diclazuril.  
     
     
         6 . Microbiological culture comprising the  Eimeria  strain of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         7 . A composition comprising the  Eimeria  strain of  claim 1 , together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , further comprising an  Eimeria  sensitive to toltrazuril or diclazuril.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 antigenic material of at least one other microorganism or virus pathogenic to poultry.    
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the other microorganism or virus is selected from the group consisting of  Eimeria,  Infectious Bronchitis virus, Newcastle Disease virus, Infectious Bursal Disease, Chicken Anaemia agent, Avian Reovirus,  Mycoplasma gallisepticum,  Turkey Rhinotracheitis virus,  Haemophilus paragallinarum,  Chicken Poxvirus, Avian Encephalomyelitisvirus, Fowl Cholera, and  E. coli.    
     
     
         11 . A process for preparing a composition, said process comprising: 
 admixing an  Eimeria  strain characterized in (a) being tolerant to ionophoric drug, (b) being sensitive to a DNA-synthesis inhibitors, and (c) having a decreased proliferative capacity    together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.    
     
     
         12 . A coccidiosis vaccine comprising: 
 a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; and    oocysts from at least one strain of  Eimeria  coccidia having: 
 a tolerance for at least one ionophoric drug,  
 a sensitivity to at least one DNA synthesis inhibitor drug, and  
 a decreased proliferative capacity,  
   wherein said at least one strain of  Eimeria  coccidia is from a species selected from the group consisting of  Eimeria tenella, E. necatrix, E. maxima, E. brunetti, E. acervulina, E. mitis,  and  E. praecox.      
     
     
         13 . The coccidiosis vaccine of  claim 12 , wherein said tolerance is for monensin.  
     
     
         14 . The coccidiosis vaccine of  claim 12 , wherein said tolerance is for salinomycin.  
     
     
         15 . The coccidiosis vaccine of  claim 12 , wherein said sensitivity is to toltrazuril.  
     
     
         16 . The coccidiosis vaccine of  claim 12 , wherein said sensitivity is to diclazuril.  
     
     
         17 . The coccidiosis vaccine according to  claim 12 , further comprising antigenic material of at least one virus or other microorganism pathogenic to poultry.  
     
     
         18 . The coccidiosis vaccine of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one virus or other microorganism is selected from the group consisting of  Eimeria tenella, E. necatrix, E. maxima, E. brunetti, E. acervulina, E. mitis, E. praecox,  Infectious Bronchitis virus, Newcastle Disease virus, Infectious Bursal Disease, Chicken Anemia agent, Avian Reovirus,  Mycoplasma gallisepticum,  Turkey Rhinotracheitis virus,  Hemophilus paragallinarum,  Chicken Poxvirus, Avian Encephalomyelitisvirus, Fowl Cholera, and  E. coli.    
     
     
         19 . The coccidiosis vaccine of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one strain of  Eimeria  coccidia was produced by a single oocyst selection.