Dynamics of immunity in chickens to Eimeria tenella under experimental conditions

УДК 619.614:636.5.621
DOI 10.33861/2071-8020-2026-1-21-23

Original Empirical Research

Makhieva B. M., Dagaeva A. B.

Abstract. Despite significant progress in the Russian poultry industry, which has become one of the world’s top five producers, it still faces a number of challenges that require comprehensive solutions. One of the most pressing issues is combating parasitic diseases, particularly eimeria in broiler chickens, which is widespread in floor-raised poultry. Although the development of optimal vaccination strategies is an effective method for combating coccidiosis in chickens, our understanding of the mechanisms of immunity to this disease remains far from complete. A particular lack of data is observed regarding the strength and duration of immune protection against various strains of Eimeria tenella under conditions that prevent reinfection.

Materials and methods. In 2025, a 75-day experiment (from March 1 to May 15) was conducted at the Chirkeysky poultry farm (Novy Chirkey village, Kizilyurtovsky district) to determine the duration of immunity to Eimeria tenella in Lohmann Brown chickens. The study was conducted under sterile conditions, excluding natural infection. One hundred and twenty chickens were housed in individual metal cages with mesh bottoms, which were disinfected daily. During the experiment, the birds’ health, feed and water consumption, which were also heat-sterilized, were monitored.

Results and discussion. The chickens were divided into two groups of 60 individuals. The first group received artificial immunization: at 12 days of age, they were injected with 5,000 E. tenella oocysts per chicken, and after 15 days, the dose was increased to 50,000 oocysts per chicken. The second group of chickens was kept under sterile conditions and served as a control.

Conclusion. Immunization of chickens with two doses of 5,000 and 50,000 Eimeria tenella oocysts at a 15-day interval induces a pronounced immune response against coccidiosis. Under sterile conditions, the immune defense of chickens remains stable until the 45th day; on the 60th day, a significant decrease in the protective effect is recorded.

Keywords: oocyst, reinfection, chickens, infection, intensity, immunity, prepatent period, dose, group, sterilization.

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Author affiliation:

Dagaeva Asiyat B., Scientific Researcher of the Laboratory for the Study of Invasive Diseases of Farm Animals and Birds of the Caspian Zonal Research Veterinary Institute – branch of the Federal Agrarian Scientific Research Center of the Republic of Dagestan; 88, Dakhadaeva st., Makhachkala, 367000; phone: 8-988-7838951; e-mail: journal1977@mail.ru.

Responsible for the correspondence with the editorial board: Makhieva Bakhu M., Ph.D. in Veterinary Medicine, Leading Scientific Researcher of the Laboratory for the Study of Invasive Diseases of Farm Animals and Birds of the Caspian Zonal Research Veterinary Institute – branch of the Federal Agrarian Scientific Research Center of the Republic of Dagestan; 88, Dakhadaeva st., Makhachkala, 367000; phone: 8-928-8717097; e-mail: bahumahieva66@gmail.com.

Authors’ Contribution:

Makhieva B. M.: resources, investigation, writing – review and editing.

Dagaeva A. B.: investigation, formal analysis, writing – original draft preparation.

Conflict of Interest Statement: the authors declare no conflict of interest.