Progress for Chicken Parasite Vaccine
Researchers have taken an important step towards developing a new type of vaccine to protect chickens against coccidiosis, one of the most significant parasites to infect chickens in the world.
The new vaccine, to be based on proteins from the coccidiosis bug as opposed to the live parasite, could be produced on a larger scale than is possible at the moment. Researchers claim it would therefore provide much more widespread protection to chicken flocks.
The development follows research funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and other bodies, which has produced a much more detailed picture of how coccidiosis attacks chickens, involving the uncovering of protein molecules which are secreted onto the surface of the parasite.
Currently, the condition is treated with antimicrobial drugs or using a vaccine derived from a live parasite. However, these methods are undermined by widespread drug resistance and the expense of producing the vaccine.
Professor Fiona Tomley, of the RVC, said: "Coccidiosis is the most important parasite of poultry globally. Conservative estimates by the EU put the annual worldwide cost of coccidiosis at over £1b, so controlling it is very important economically but it is also valuable for improving the health and welfare of chickens."
Professor Stephen Matthews of Imperial College, London, called finding a basis for a new type of vaccine the "holy grail for researchers combating coccidiosis."
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is inviting applications from veterinary students to attend a one-week extramural studies (EMS) placement in July 2026.
