Abstract
Simple SummaryCoccidiosis is a major problem in poultry production, leading to significant economic losses. Due to the outbreak of resistance to the available treatments, research is focusing on finding new molecules that work against the pathogen. Botanical compounds represent promising alternatives, but reliable in vitro tests are needed for their screening and to understand their mechanism of action. Research in vitro involves studies on the environmental phase of the parasite and studies on the endogenous development, which occurs inside the host cells and that requires cell cultures or in ovo models to be studied. This review aims to summarize the protocols that have been successfully applied so far, as well as to suggest potential cues to improve research on this field. Moreover, as the surge of botanicals as anticoccidial molecules is on the rise, the intent is to provide an overview of the methods to assess their effectiveness in vitro in comparison with conventional drugs.Avian coccidiosis is a disease causing considerable economic losses in the poultry industry. It is caused by Eimeria spp., protozoan parasites characterized by an exogenous–endogenous lifecycle. In vitro research on these pathogens is very complicated and lacks standardization. This review provides a description of the main in vitro protocols so far assessed focusing on the exogenous phase, with oocyst viability and sporulation assays, and on the endogenous phase, with invasion and developmental assays in cell cultures and in ovo. An overview of these in vitro applications to screen both old and new remedies and to understand the relative mode of action is also discussed.
Highlights
Published: 30 June 2021Coccidiosis is one of the main parasitic diseases in poultry production and it leads to significant economic losses, estimated to be up to USD 13 billion per year [1]
Field cases are usually characterized by various species at the same time, and the seven species mainly involved in the disease are Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria brunetti, Eimeria maxima, Eimeria mitis, Eimeria necatrix, Eimeria praecox and Eimeria tenella; they differ from each other in terms of dimension, severity, and site of the lesions [2,3]
The causative agents are Eimeria spp., protozoan parasites characterized by an intricate life cycle difficult to study in vitro
Summary
Coccidiosis is one of the main parasitic diseases in poultry production and it leads to significant economic losses, estimated to be up to USD 13 billion per year [1]. Eimeria spp., etiological agent of this illness, belong to the genus Eimeria, family Eimeriidae and phylum Apicomplexa. They are microscopic, spore-forming protozoan parasites that replicate inside the host enterocytes, causing severe diarrhea, weight loss, and, in some cases, sudden death. Field cases are usually characterized by various species at the same time, and the seven species mainly involved in the disease are Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria brunetti, Eimeria maxima, Eimeria mitis, Eimeria necatrix, Eimeria praecox and Eimeria tenella; they differ from each other in terms of dimension, severity, and site of the lesions [2,3]. Eimeria mivati and Eimeria hagani have been previously described, but they are considered nomina dubia by the majority of coccidiologists [4]
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