Agricultural Research Service (ARS) researchers have developed a method for controlling avian coccidiosis, a major poultry disease caused by several species of the intestinal parasite Eimeria.
ARS's method is a pretreatment regimen that could be administered either orally to poultry or injected into embryonated eggs.
Coccidiosis is a leading disease that costs the poultry industry more than $3 billion worldwide in total annual economic losses from treatment expenses, bird losses, and low bird weight (critical for marketing broilers). Current disease control strategies include drug-treatment regimens; however, the parasite is developing resistance to these treatments. The industry needs a combination of preventative and control strategies to control poultry coccidiosis. A lack of efficient vaccines, consumer concerns, and regulatory bans have given way to drugindependent approaches like ARS's.
ARS researchers have demonstrated the proof-ofconcept for this technology and are seeking a commercial partner to expand the concept to other intestinal poultry diseases, including coccidiosis. Researchers in the ARS Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory need a partner to conduct basic and applied research studies to help move the technology to the field.
More info: Tara T. Weaver-Missick, 301-504-6965, twm@ars.usda.gov
