New pathways to tackle coccidiosis
Improved use of molecular biology and vaccination approaches can go a long way to help the poultry industry better understand and control coccidiosis challenges.
Mark Jenkins, PhD, a leading poultry microbiologist with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, highlighted this opportunity in a presentation at the 2024 Poultry Science Association meeting.
Power of molecular biology
Avian coccidiosis control largely depends on understanding the epidemiology of the disease and the causative protozoan Eimeria, Jenkins said.
Molecular biology can help by enabling more precise investigation and assessment of Eimeria oocysts and avian coccidiosis.
This precise investigation includes helping researchers and the poultry industry develop and utilize markers for drug-resistant Eimeria strains, assess the genetic basis for virulence and determine the intestinal site-specificity of coccidiosis challenges — all of which can improve control strategies.