B-cell epitope mapping within the MA16 antigenic sequence found in Eimeria acervulina merozoites and sporozoites.

Overlapping heptapeptides derived from the MA16 Eimeria acervulina antigenic sequence (Castle et al., 1991) were synthesised on polypropylene pins ('pepskan' technique, Cambridge Research Biochemicals, UK). Binding of antibodies from chickens and rabbits infected and immunised respectively with various species of Eimeria oocysts (E.

Protein profiles of five avian Eimeria species.

SDS-PAGE fingerprint studies of oocyst antigens of five major Eimeria species including E. acervulina, E. maxima, E.

Cross-reactivity among antisera raised against five avian Eimeria species in the natural host and in rabbits.

Water- and SDS-soluble antigens were prepared from purified sporulated oocysts of Eimeria acervulina, E. maxima, E. necatrix, E.

Correlation between immune responses and oocyst production in chickens monospecifically infected with Eimeria maxima.

One-day-old chicks (Cobb 500) were purchased from a commercial hatchery and raised on non-medicated diet in wire cages in coccidia-free conditions. The chickens were infected with a single dose (1 x 10(4)) of sporulated oocysts of E. maxima by direct injection into the crop at 5 weeks of age.

Optimal conditions for measurement of blastogenic responses of chickens to concanavalin A in whole blood assays.

One-day-old chicks (Cobb 500) were raised in wire cages in clean isolated conditions and fed on a non-medicated diet. Heparinised peripheral blood samples were taken from the cutanea ulnaris (wing) vein. The effect of various parameters including concentration of concanavalin A (Con A), dilution of blood in medium, volume of blood dilution per culture, type of media, percentage of serum, incubation period, concentration of thymidine, pulse-labelling period, and age of chickens on the blastogenic response of chickens to Con A was evaluated.

High-resolution mapping of B-cell epitopes within an antigenic sequence from Eimeria tenella.

Overlapping hexapeptides representing part of an Eimeria tenella antigenic sequence, shown to induce partial immunity to homologous challenge in chickens, were synthesized on polypropylene pins (Pepskan technique; Cambridge Research Biochemicals, Cambridge, United Kingdom). The binding to these hexapeptides of antibodies from chickens infected and rabbits immunized with five species of Eimeria was studied, using the coated pins as the solid phase of an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Antibody binding to most regions of the sequence was demonstrated, with peak areas of antigenicity correlating with the most hydrophilic regions.

Nodular lesions found in Irish poultry during veterinary inspection at poultry meat plants.

This investigation was carried out on three categories of old birds including cage layers, game birds (ducks and pheasants) and free-range birds. During the study 137,918 carcasses were examined grossly at slaughterhouses and 2040 condemned carcasses underwent detailed post-mortem examination. A total of 419 of the condemned carcasses had nodular lesions.