The extraintestinal stages of Eimeria tenella and E. maxima in the chicken.

Donor chickens given feed medicated with one or two levels of decoquinate or given non-medicated feed were infected with oocysts of Eimeria tenella or E. maxima per os. Twelve hours after inoculation with oocysts liver, mid-intestine or ceca homogenates were fed to previously uninfected recipient chickens. The results showed that continuous medication with decoquinate was effective in preventing the transfer of sporozoites from the intestine to the liver. Oocysts were detected in the feces of all recipients of tissue from non-medicated donors, showing that some sporozoites of E. maxima and E. tenella are normally transferred to liver. Young broiler chickens were immunized by oral inoculation of E. maxima oocysts. The immune status of similar chickens inoculated with sporozoites of the same species directly into the liver or spleen were assessed. During the experimental period half of the chicks were provided with non-medicated food and the remainder were given feed supplemented with decoquinate; decoquinate was effective in arresting the development of the sporozoites. Two weeks after initial infection the birds were challenged with oocysts of E. maxima per os. Injection of sporozoites into the spleen did not protect against challenge. Birds inoculated with sporozoites into the liver were unable to develop a significant level of immunity. When the drug pressure was removed from these birds, parasitism of the intestine occurred and immunity developed.