Method of reducing the output of Eimeria oocysts from a newborn chick
AssigneeChilwalner
InventorsMichael Wallach, Thea Pugatsch, David Mencher
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Abstract
This invention provides a method of reducing the output of Eimeria oocysts from a newborn chick which comprises administering to a laying hen at a suitable time prior to the hen laying a fertilized egg an amount of native or recombinant antigenic protein present in gametocytes of the Eimeria spp. effective to induce in the hen an immune response conferring protection via maternal immunity against infection or transmission by the Eimeria spp. in the offspring chick.
Claims12
A method of reducing the output of Eimeria oocysts in faces from a newborn chick which comprises administering to a laying hen prior to the hen laying a fertilized egg an amount of a purified or recombinant antigenic protein present in gametocytes of an Eimeria spp. effective to induce in the hen an immune response and transmit maternal antibody to the offspring chick so that the output of oocysts from the chick is reduced, wherein the antigenic protein is selected from the group consisting of proteins derived from Eimeria gametocytes and having molecular weights of 250.+-.20kd, 82.+-.10kd, and 56.+-.5kd, as determined under reducing conditions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.