Fecal samples from 12 Pipistrellus kuhlii captured at Shagrah, Saudi Arabia, were examined for coccidia and three (25%) found to harbor a undescribed eimerian, herein described as Eimeria pipistrellus n. sp. Sporulated oocysts were subspherical, 24.8 x 23.2 (22-27 x 20-25) microns, with a bilayered and smooth wall. The micropyle was absent, but a large oocyst residuum and a single polar granule were present. Sporocysts were ovoid, 11.6 x 8.3 (10.5-13 x 7.5-9) microns, with a prominent Stieda body, but without a substiedal body; sporozoites lay head to tail in sporocysts and contained one large posterior refractile body. Eimeria pipistrellus n. sp. is the 3rd species of the genus Eimeria found from bats of the genus Pipistrellus.
Animal ; Chiroptera/parasitology* ; Eimeria/ultrastructure ; Eimeria/isolation & purification* ; Saudi Arabia

Eimeria tenella and Eimeria maxima are important pathogens causing intracellular protozoa infections in laboratory avian animals and are known to affect experimental results obtained from contaminated animals. This study aimed to find a fast, sensitive, and efficient protocol for the molecular identification of E. tenella and E. maxima in experimental samples using chickens as laboratory avian animals. DNA was extracted from fecal samples collected from chickens and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis was employed to detect E. tenella and E. maxima from the extracted DNA. The target nucleic acid fragments were specifically amplified by PCR. Feces secreting E. tenella and E. maxima were detected by a positive PCR reaction. In this study, we were able to successfully detect E. tenella and E. maxima using the molecular diagnostic method of PCR. As such, we recommended PCR for monitoring E. tenella and E. maxima in laboratory avian facilities.
Animals ; Chickens ; DNA ; Eimeria ; Eimeria tenella ; Feces ; Oocysts ; Pathology, Molecular ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Anticoccidial effects of Galla rhois (GR) extract were evaluated in chickens after oral infection with Eimeria tenella. This study was performed using 3-day-old chickens (n=30). The animals were divided into 3 groups as follows: GR 0.5%/infected (n=10), untreated/infected (n=10), and non-infected control (n=10). The chickens were fed a standard diet supplemented with or without GR for 1 week before infection with E. tenella (10,000 sporulated oocysts per chicken). The effects of GR on E. tenella infection were assessed by 2 parameters, number of fecal oocysts and body weight gain, and the results of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The GR-fed chickens produced significantly lower number of fecal oocysts (P<0.05) than the E. tenella-infected chickens who were fed the standard diet. In addition, GR-based diet improved the loss of body weight caused by E. tenella infection. Positive findings of PCR were identified by distinct bands in the samples of E. tenella-inoculated chickens. However, PCR analysis revealed no E. tenella oocysts in the feces of GR-fed chickens. Our data showed that GR extracts had remarkable anticoccidial activities against E. tenella. This finding might have implications for the development of novel anticoccidial drugs.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Chickens ; Coccidiosis ; Diet ; Eimeria ; Eimeria tenella ; Feces ; Oocysts ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Anticoccidial effects of the root bark of Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz (Rutaceae) extract (DDE) were evaluated in chickens following oral infection with Eimeria (E.) tenella. Three-day-old chickens (n=30) were assigned to three groups (control, untreated, and DDE 0.1% treated). Chickens were fed a standard diet supplemented with or without DDE for 1 week prior to infection with E. tenella (10,000 sporulated oocysts per chicken). The effects of DDE on E. tenella infection were assessed by two parameters; fecal oocysts shedding and body weights gain. The DDE-fed chickens produced significantly reduced fecal oocysts (P<0.05) when compared to the E. tenella-infected group fed standard diet. Also, DDE-based diet, improved body weight loss caused by E. tenella infection. Our data demonstrated that DDE had remarkable anticoccidial activities against E. tenella. This finding might have implications for the development of anticoccidial drug. This study is the first to demonstrate anticoccidial effect of DDE on Eimeria parasites.
Body Weight ; Chickens ; Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene ; Dictamnus* ; Diet ; Eimeria ; Eimeria tenella* ; Oocysts ; Parasites ; Rutaceae

Anticoccidial effects of the Plantago asiatica extract (PAE) were evaluated in chickens following oral infection with Eimeria (E.) tenella. This study was conducted on the 3-day-old chickens (n=30). Those animals were divided with 3 groups; PAE 0.1% treated/infected (n=10), PAE untreated/infected (n=10) and non-infected control (n=10). Chickens were fed a standard diet supplemented with or without PAE for 1 week prior to infection with E. tenella (10,000 sporulated oocysts per chicken). The effects of PAE on E. tenella infection were assessed by two parameters; fecal oocysts shedding and body weights gain. The PAE-fed chickens produced significantly reduced fecal oocysts (P<0.05) when compared to the E. tenella-infected group fed standard diet. Also, PAE-based diet, improved body weight loss caused by E. tenella infection. Our data demonstrated that PAE had remarkable anticoccidial activities against E. tenella. This finding might have implications for the development of anticoccidial drug. This study is the first to demonstrate anticoccidial effect of PAE on Eimeria parasites.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Chickens ; Diet ; Eimeria tenella* ; Eimeria* ; Oocysts ; Parasites ; Plantago*

Anti-coccidial effects of the fruits of Tribulus terrestris (Tribuli fructus) ethanol extract (TTE) were studied with animal experiment following per oral administration with Eimeria (E.) tenella. This experiment was performed on the 3-day-old chicks (n=30). The animals were divided with 3 groups; TFE 15mg per animal+infected (n=10), TTE untreated+infected (n=10) and non-infected control (n=10). Animals were administrated with or without TTE during 1 week, and then inoculated with E. tenella. The anti-coccidial activity were evaluated with oocysts shedding numbers in stools, body weights changes and food intake changes. The TTE-inoclated animals revealed significantly decreased stool oocysts numbers (P < 0.05) when compared to the TTE untreated animals. Also, TTE-treated animals showed more increased body weight gains (P < 0.05) than the TTE untreated animals. These results demonstrate that TTE produce anticoccidial activities against E. tenella. TTE could be a promising treatment for the coccidiosis.
Administration, Oral ; Animal Experimentation ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Coccidiosis ; Eating ; Eimeria tenella* ; Eimeria* ; Ethanol* ; Fruit* ; Oocysts ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Tribulus*

The oocyst wall is severed by means of mechanical injury or chemical agents. This study reports the percentage of in vitro sporocyst release following mechanical shaking in the presence of varying sizes of glass beads. Glass beads measured 0.5, 1, and 3 mm in diameter and were shaken with the oocysts for different times ranging from 5 sec to 5 min. Approximately 80% of sporocysts were released with 5 min of shaking in the presence of 3 mm glass beads, as well as 30 sec with 0.5 mm beads and 1 mm glass beads. The release of sporocysts of E. tenella was most efficient using 1 mm glass beads and treatment times of 30 sec to 1 min. Therefore, the use of 1 mm glass beads with 30 sec to 1 min of agitation is recommended in order to maximize sporocyst release and recovery and to improve the yield of viable sporozoites for use in biochemical, tissue culture, and immunological applications of coccidia.
Eimeria tenella/*physiology ; *Glass ; *Mechanical Phenomena ; Microspheres ; Oocysts/*physiology ; Parasitology/*methods ; *Stress, Physiological ; Time Factors

During experimental Eimeria infections in chickens, facilities are often contaminated by fecal oocysts known to be highly resistant to both chemical and enzymatic treatments. Thus, studies using experimental Eimeria infections have been limited due to the difficulty of complete elimination of residual oocysts from both cages and facilities. To overcome this limitation, simple, inexpensive, and disposable cages were constructed from cardboard boxes and tested during experimental Eimeria maxima infections. The cages were used in animal rooms with only a 1.7% evidence of coccidia contamination between adjacent cages. No significant differences in fecal oocyst output and body weight gain were noted between animals housed in disposable cages and animals housed in wire control cages. This cage design is a useful means for preventing oocyst contamination during experimental conditions, suggesting that this disposable cage design could be used for other avian infectious disease studies.
Animals ; Chickens ; Coccidiosis/transmission/*veterinary ; Disposable Equipment/*utilization ; Eimeria/*isolation & purification ; *Environmental Microbiology

The aim of this study was to identify antigens for a vaccine or drug target to control rabbit coccidiosis. A combination of 2-dimensional electrophoresis, immunoblotting, and mass spectrometric analysis were used to identify novel antigens from the sporozoites of Eimeria stiedae. Protein spots were recognized by the sera of New Zealand rabbits infected artificially with E. stiedae. The proteins were characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS) analysis in combination with bioinformatics. Approximately 868 protein spots were detected by silver-staining, and a total of 41 immunoreactive protein spots were recognized by anti-E. stiedae sera. Finally, 23 protein spots were successfully identified. The proteins such as heat shock protein 70 and aspartyl protease may have potential as immunodiagnostic or vaccine antigens. The immunoreactive proteins were found to possess a wide range of biological functions. This study is the first to report the proteins recognized by sera of infected rabbits with E. stiedae, which might be helpful in identifying potential targets for vaccine development to control rabbit coccidiosis.
Coccidiosis* ; Computational Biology ; Eimeria ; Electrophoresis ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; Immunoblotting ; Mass Spectrometry ; Rabbits ; Sporozoites

In order to make a series of analyses on the gene expression of Eimeria tenella sensitive strain and anti-maduramycin strain at their different developmental stages, we constructed a mixed cDNA library with unsporulated oocyst, sporulated oocyst, sporozoite and merozoite from Eimeria tenella sensitive strain and antimaduramycin strain (induced by its sensitive strain)respectively. After sequencing reactions, the total 2806 high quality expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of 3' ends were derived from the cDNA library. Results of bioinformatics analysis of all EST data showed that EST sequences assembled 1424 tentative unique transcripts (TUTs) and the redundancy was 49.3%, and that about 83.6% TUTs could not be assigned for functional description. Among the remained annotated genes, infection related proteins and development related proteins such as MIC2 protein, BT1 family protein and some ribosomal protein expressed at high abundant level.
Eimeria tenella ; genetics ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Gene Library ; Sequence Tagged Sites