Use of live oocyst vaccines in the control of avian coccidiosis: experimental studies and field trials.

Areas addressed in this study on the use of live oocyst vaccines to control coccidiosis include: the influence of immunocompetency of the strains and sex of the birds used; methods of delivery of vaccine; immunological variation between different strains of the same coccidial species; and the effects of combining vaccine with anticoccidial medication. The results show that vaccination with live oocysts elicited significant protection against coccidiosis, both with experimentally induced and naturally acquired coccidial infection, resulting in average bird weight gains and feed efficiency similar to that obtained with conventional anticoccidial medication.