Breeding Chickens For Resistance To Cecal Coccidiosis

Susceptibility and cecal microbiota alteration to Eimeria-infection in Yellow-feathered broilers, Arbor Acres broilers and Lohmann pink layers

“…Coccidiosis causes substantial economic losses to the farming industry and poses a significant risk to global poultry production. Relevant studies have demonstrated that different chicken lines have different susceptibility to coccidiosis ( Palafox et al, 1949 ; Rosenberg et al, 1954 ; Champion, 1954 ; Jeffers, et al, 1970 ; Bishop and Woolliams, 2014 ; Boulton et al, 2018 ). As primary broilers (yellow-feathered broilers and AA broilers) or layers (Lohmann pink layers), their susceptibility to coccidiosis and possible mechanism remain unknown.…”

“…It has long been recognized that different chicken breeds exhibit varying degrees of “susceptibility” to Eimeria species, including tolerance to infection and recovery rates from the pathological consequences of infection ( Attree et al, 2021 ). Progeny of 2 species of White Leghorns showed significantly different survival rates against high-dose challenge by E. tenella ( Palafox et al, 1949 ). Bumstead and Millard (2009) demonstrated that the total oocyst output of 8 inbred lines, including the Houghton Brown Leghorn Line ( BRL ) and the White Leghorn Line N, 151, C, 61, 72, 0, and WL, was significantly different when inoculated with the same dose of sporulated oocysts of E. tenella ( Bumstead and Millard, 2009 ).…”

Controlling the causative agents of coccidiosis in domestic chickens; an eye on the past and considerations for the future

“…Key factors include consideration of the flock environment, such as litter quality, ventilation rate and humidity, as well as stocking density (Long et al 1976 ; Bumstead and Millard 1992 ; Kim et al 2008 ; Williams et al 2009 ; Bacciu et al 2014 ; Blake et al 2005 , 2015 ). In a broader context, the impact of host genetics can be beneficial, choosing lines or selectively breeding for individuals that are more resistant to Eimeria and the consequences of coccidiosis (Palafox et al 1949 ; Champion 1954 ; Rosenberg et al 1954 ; Jeffers et al 1970 ; Swaggerty et al 2011 ; Boulton et al 2018a , b ).…”

“…It has long been recognised that different chicken breeds can exhibit varied levels of “susceptibility” or “resistance” to Eimeria species, including tolerance to infection and rate of recovery from the pathological consequences of infection (Palafox et al 1949 ; Champion 1954 ; Rosenberg et al 1954 ; Jeffers et al 1970 ; Bishop and Woolliams 2014 ; Boulton et al 2018a ). Differences in susceptibility to Eimeria infection have been found between and within outbred and inbred chicken breeds/lines, with reports of more than two-fold variations in overall susceptibility to Eimeria species (Bumstead and Millard 1992 ; Zhu et al 2003 ; Pinard-van der Laan et al 2009 ) for example, differences in response to E. tenella challenge have been identified between the relatively resistant Egyptian Fayoumi and more susceptible White Leghorn breeding lines (Pinard-van der Laan et al 1998 , 2009 ).…”