Long P L, Johnson J, Reyna P
Avian Dis. 1980 Apr-Jun;24(2):435-45.
Two-week-old chickens susceptible to coccidiosis were introduced into litter pens for periods up to 48 hr in order to estimate the potential coccidial challenge. They were then transferred to cages and the infections acquired were estimated by oocyst output or by body weight gain and lesion scores. Moderate to severe infection occurred even when about 1,000 oocysts/gram were present in the litter. The results suggest that the brief introduction of "sentinel" birds into an infected environment may be a valuable method of assessing the actual coccidial challenge which groups of chickens acquire from exposure to litter. The technique may be used to monitor the effectiveness of anticoccidial drugs or the immune status of chickens kept in litter pens by comparing infections in "sentinels" and "in-pen" birds.
将两周大易患球虫病的小鸡放入垫料围栏中长达48小时，以评估潜在的球虫感染风险。然后将它们转移到笼子里，并通过卵囊排出量、体重增加情况和病变评分来评估所获得的感染情况。即使垫料中每克约有1000个卵囊，也会发生中度至重度感染。结果表明，将“哨兵”鸡短暂引入受感染环境可能是一种评估鸡群因接触垫料而实际面临的球虫感染风险的有价值方法。通过比较“哨兵”鸡和“围栏内”鸡的感染情况，该技术可用于监测抗球虫药物的有效性或饲养在垫料围栏中的鸡的免疫状态。
